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PROCESSIONAL 




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COPYRIGHT DEPOSTT. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 



The 
Divine Processional 



By 

Denis Wortman, D. D. 

Author of 
"Reliques of the Christ " 




New York Chicago Toronto 

Fleming H. Revell Company 

London and Edinburgh 



Copyright, 1903, by 
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY 

( November) 



CLARg^VXn No 

conr 8. 



r 






,<}£. 



New York: 158 Fifth Avenue 
Chicago: 63 Washington Street 
Toronto: 27 Richmond Street, W 
London: 21 Paternoster Square 
Edinburgh: 30 St. Mary Street 



With a Father's Blessing on his Sons 

DENTS WOR TMAN, JR. 

and 

ELBERT B. MONROE WORTMAN, 

May the Author Dedicate to all Hearty Lovers of 

God and His World 

this Sympathetic Attempt at 

Spiritual Interpretation 



INTRODUCTION 

• 

THE generous favor with which his 
" Reliques of the Christ " was received 
by the press and the public in 1888, 
and in subsequent editions, has encouraged the 
author to the completion of this undertaking. 
It differs from the " Reliques " in motif and 
form. "While he trusts it may minister quite 
as much to the spiritual life, it attempts a 
wider task. The former assumed the spiritual 
attitude of the reader, and without argument 
sought to interpret and develop that which is 
richest in personal experience and hope. It 
naturally cast itself into the form and fervor, 
so far as might be, of the mystical medieval 
rhapsody; the whole being, however (if, so 
kind an acknowledgment by one of many 
journals may be allowed insertion here), " fused 
with elements distinctively modern, and a vis- 
ible ministry of the discoveries of science to 
the meditative ardor of faith." 

The present poem is a bolder hazard. The 
author believes that the age with all its enthu- 
siasms in scientific and religious inquiry de- 
5 



6 INTRODUCTION 

raands a certain religious treatment of the 
modern knowledges and a certain scientific 
treatment of the best religious thought and 
passion ; not in the cold statement of fact and 
reason, but such a s^niipathetic interpretation 
of them as can perhaps only be through ideal- 
istic visioning and harmonics. Happy shall he 
be, when another, better equipped, shall under- 
take the work and realize the ideal, and help 
men to the larger comprehensions of truth, so 
those who behold the outer and those who be- 
hold the inner creations, the one of form, the 
other of spirit, shall see eye to eye, and with 
the voice together sing. 

This undertaking would therefore be an ar- 
gument without the argumentative form, and 
by all means without that disputativeness 
which such implies. It would be a vision to 
such as may see, a voice to such as may 
hear, a song for such as would sing. It would 
modesth'^ attempt Interpretation ; an interpre- 
tation of nature through a spiritual visioning, 
and of religion through those great theologies 
God has deposited in nature and human his- 
tory. It means to be intrinsically optimistic. 
No one who believes in the unit}'^ of the God- 
head has any right to believe other than in the 
perpetual unfolding of His plans, and the undi- 
verted, eternal Coming of His Kingdom. 

True, there be advances, and then apparent 



INTRODUCTION 7 

retrogressions; only, however, to promote a 
more general spiritual progress ; better than a 
mere survival of the fittest ; an inevitable mul- 
tiplying and improvement of the fittest. Over 
and over we witness such in history. But, 
withal the declensions, there is advance ; cycles 
prepare the way for cycles ; each is type and 
prophet of the other. From the first, reformers 
have seemed to themselves to be starting out 
from a very beginning ; but with all the human 
ebbs the divine tide has been rising. If in 
reading this poem one shall deem himself Hear- 
ing the end, but shall find himself starting 
from a new point of departure, it is ardently 
hoped he will not be discouraged. He will 
please remind himself that this is an essential 
parallel to that succession of progressions we 
all must note in history herself ; and further 
on he may discover that there has been a gen- 
eral and logical convergence of all the paths of 
thought towards the supreme conclusion : 
" Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and - the 
power and the glory and the victory, and the 
majesty ; all that is in the heaven and in the 
earth is Thine, O Lord, and Thou art exalted 
as Head over All ! " 

If in this undertaking the author shall have 
at all effectively illustrated the theories of his 
early life that Christianity presents the no- 
blest themes for the poet, and that Nature is 



8 INTRODUCTION 

fuller of worthy poetic suggestion than the 
myths of barbaric ages, or the daring conceits 
of romantic civilizations; if, in the humble but 
sincere endeavor to give to Science a kindlier 
interpretation of Faith, and to Faith a more 
affectionate interpretation of Science, he shall 
have helped timid believers out of distrusts, 
and fine lovers of Nature to a more confident 
acceptance of religious thought ; if he shall to 
any degree have shewn the Creator to be more 
personal Lover of both the physical and spir- 
itual worlds, and thus shall have aided any to 
a readier faith in Him ; if he shall have at all 
succeeded in illustrating the supernatural as 
truly natural and the natural as divine; 
if he shall have contributed his mite in 
lifting religion above mere creeds and forms 
on the one hand, and above rationalism and 
iconoclasm on the other ; if he shall have 
helped to show to such as hold to the divine 
Immanence how it may involve the Incarna- 
tion, and to such as hold to the Incarnation 
how that great historic fact authenticates 
God's holy Immanence ; if he shall have broad- 
ened faith and given doubt a kindlier bent to- 
wards spiritual trust; if, indeed, he may in 
some least degree have assisted in shewing 
forth the majestic grace of Him that filleth all 
in all, to whom be praise forever and ever ! — 
then shall he feel that the intense and grate- 



INTRODUCTION 9 

ful labors of spare hours among the pastoral 
responsibilities of years shall have been di- 
vinely blessed ! It were vain to say he had no 
hope for a fair measure of success ; else wise 
it had been an unjustifiable adventure. Of its 
difficulties and of his failings, perhaps in many 
points, none can be better aware than the 
writer. But he would cordially invite his 
readers through regions of Christian specula- 
tion and faith, some old, some new, by what 
appears to him at least a largely untraversed 
way. 

Perhaps a word may be allowed in regard 
to the introduction of the Yoice of the Divine 
Father, in the mystic scene which suggested 
the title of The Wonder- Cross^ — Immanence,^^^ 
at first, as the title to the book ; a title which 
gave wdij to that of The Divine Proces- 
sional, as suggestive of the trend and pur- 
pose of the whole work. To hear the Father 
speak, appeared the only way to represent 
the incarnation and atonement from the Di- 
vine standpoint. "We have been in the bad 
habit of overlooking the Father's interest in 
the redemptive work. Our praise and pray- 
ing would seem to indicate that in shewing 
forth His mercy. He were going against His 
own nature ; as though He needed placating ; 
as though He did not love us but wanted to, 
and so let His Beloved die on the Cross, that 



to INTRODUCTION 

He might overcome legal obstacles and scru- 
ples, and love us and forgive ! We seem some- 
times to forget that God so loved the world 
that He gave His only-begotten Son ! There- 
fore, here we would have Himself speak out 
His own gracious heart; however brokenly and 
erringly we may interpret it into our human 
speech. The poem, therefore, would venture 
reverentl}'^ to place us in the attitude of listen- 
ing to His Voice, and gathering therefrom 
some conception of what He is pleased to plan. 
In the sublime tragedy of Earth, Nature suf- 
fers, and Man, and the great Son of Man, in 
all which the Almighty has His ineffable sym- 
pathies ; while through the great birth-pangs 
of the World, Mankind is being born into the 
Kingdom of Heaven! It is trusted that this 
difficult task at interpretation is treated at 
least with reverence and dignity. 

The various songs and choruses will break 
the monotony of blank verse and permit di- 
gressions in praise which could not have been 
properly allowed in the logical conduct of the 
argument itself ; and may be considered as ex- 
pressing the thoughts and emotions, either of 
the other-world Visitors, or of Nature, or of 
us who guide the Visitors about the earth, or 
of the Reader ; just as shall strike the reader's 
mood. All music, all poetry, all prophecy, 
all art, interprets itself to the spiritual con- 



INTRODUCTION ii 

sciousness and temperament of the individual 
soul. 

Now unto the King, Eternal, Immortal, In- 
visible, the Only Wise God, be Glory and 
Power, Forever. Amen ! 

Denis Wortman. 

Hyde Park, 

East Orange, N. J. 



CANTOS 



I. ARRIVAL OF STAR-BORN VISITORS, AND 

THEIR DISAPPOINTING SEARCHES 
THROUGH THE EARTH, UNTIL, 

II. THEY, STARTLED, DISCOVER GETH- 

SEMANE AND THE MYSTIC WONDER- 
CROSS; WHERE 

III. THEY AND WE SEE NATURE, LAMENTING 

STILL HER DEAD SON AND LORD: HER 
DESPAIRS AND HOPES. 

IV. THEY, ENDOWED WITH SUPERNATURAL 

SENSE, COMFORT HER AND US WITH 
SOME OF THE DEEPER INTENTIONS OF 
THE CROSS. 

V. THE VOICE OF THE FATHER UTTERS HIS 

DIVINE PASSION IN THE PASSION OF HIS 
SON, BUT GLORIES WITH HIM IN -HIS 
VICTORIES THROUGH LOVE. 

VL JUSTICE JUSTIFIED. 

VII. EARTH'S BIRTH-PANGS BUT PRESAGE HER 

MOTHER-JOY. 

VIII. LET EVIL THREATEN GOOD! 

IX. IMMANENCE IN NATURE PRESSES TOWARDS 

IMMANENCE IN MAN. 

'3 



14 CJNTOS 

X. NATURE MORE AND MORE ALIVE WITH 

GOD, CULMINATING IN THE ALL PENE- 
TRATIVE CHRIST-LIFE, 



XI. WHOSE INFINITE INTERBLENDINGS ARE 
COMPREHENDED ONLY THROUGH THE 
VISIONINGS OF LOVE. 



XII. ONLY LOVE UNDERSTANDS LOVE AND 

LIFE; INTERPRETING NATURE AND 
SUPERNATURAL AS ONE. 



XIII. INTERSPHERES OF MATTER, LIFE, GOD 

XIV. THE INTENSIVE DIVINE IMMANENCE. 

XV. COMETH MAN; COMETH THE SON OF 

MAN, 

XVI. TO OVERCOME; 

XVII. AND TO GIVE LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY. 

XVin. REDEMPTION OF RELIGIONS AND NA- 
TIONS. 

XIX. LIFE'S MYSTIC OCEAN WITH HER MYSTIC 

SHIPS. 

XX. THE SEVEN ^ONIC PROPHECIES FUL- 

FILLED, AND THE LORD IS COME. 

XXI. CATHEDRAL OF ALL SAINTS, BUILDED OF 

ALL MANNERS OF STONES PRECIOUS 
TO GOD. 

XXII. THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN. 

XXIII. CORRELATION OF SPIRITUAL FORCES. 



CANTOS 15 

XXIV. "IN HOC SIGNO VINCES." 

XXV. MIGHT HE HAVE HEARD 1 MIGHT HE 

HAVE SEEN! 

XXVI. NOW, LO, COMETH HE, TO BE KING OF 

KINGS. 

XXVII. WHAT GOD IS GOD FOR. 

XXVIII. LET EVERY GATE SWING OPEN TO THE 

KING! 

XXIX. LOVE GOES A-GOSPELLING ; AND EARTH. 

FILLED WITH HER LIFE, TURNS OUT 
TO BE THE HOLY GRAIL WHEREFROM 
WORLDS THIRSTING DRINK. 



SONGS 

MOTIF. THE ADVANCING SONG, (A) 19 

WHAT AILETH THEE, POOR TROUBLED EARTH ? 41 

THE SOUTHERN CROSS 56 

SILENT BE OUR WORSHIP NOW 62 

THE CRY OF THE CROSS 72 

THEN, FACE TO FACE ! Ill 

LOVE'S RESTFUL YOKE, (A) 113 

SELF-FORGIVENESS I2I 

LORD GOD ! ART THOU NOT WEARY OF THY 

YEARS? 125 

THE GOD-DWELT BREAST 132 

MORE GOD! MORE GOD! (A) 133 

PRAYER TO THE INDWELLING GOD 134 

THE ORGAN, (c) 137 

THE BETHLEHEM IDYLL, (B) 145 

THE SPIRIT'S OUTING 160 

THE ETERNAL CANA MIRACLE 1^0 

THE CRY OF THE VOID 164 

SHIELD FINDS THE ARROW THAT MISSES THE 

AIMED-AT SHIELD 170 

NOW SHALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD 

BECOME 172 

BLOOM ON, YE DESERTS ! 174 

NOT LESS LOV'ST THOU THE SILVER SHAFTS 

OF DAWN 178 

O DREAD SIROCCOS ! 184 

17 



1 8 SONGS 

SEVEN LOGIA OF JESUS i86 

LO, HOW DEAD RUINS OF THE PAST BE 

BUILDED .... 187 

AY, WHAT IS LIFE, BUT ONE MAJESTIC SEA? . . 191 

VISIONS AND VOICES OF GOD, (a) 193 

HINTS OF A SABBATH 195 

DEDICATION OF A CHURCH, (c) 208 

LAYING OF A CORNER-STONE, (c) 211 

O WORLDLY WORLD, WILT HAVE QUAINT 

TASK? 215 

NOW TO THY BLEST BAPTISMAL WATERS 

HASTE 216 

ALL THY WORKS DO PRAISE THEE, LORD! . . 224 
THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE CITY BY THE SEA . . 329 
THE WORLD FERMENTS TO BURSTING WITH 

NEW MOUNTAINS 232 

THE TRANSVERSE BEAMS OF THE CROSS . . . 232 
LAMENT, AND TRIUMPH AT THE CROSS, (O 

POOR, TIRED, WOUNDED FEET ! ) 235 

JESU! FAIR CHILD OF GOD AND MAN ! 247 

WITH WRATH IN MERCY AND MERCY IN 

WRATH 258 

STARS ON THE WATCH-TOWERS OF INFINITE 

HEIGHT! 274 



(The Author acknowledges his indebtedness to T/ie Independent, for 
permission to reprint his poems marked "A," Harper's Bazaar for " B," 
The Christian Intelligencer and Mail and Express for "C." The 
Others now make their first appearance in print.) 



MO TIF 



Adown the sounding ages from afar 
Sweep solemn storms of larum and of joy, 

Cries of hurt childhood, and the roar of war, 
Loud shouts of powers that rescue, or destroy. 

At first amidst the multitudinous din 

Breathes the sweet promise of the Peace to come ; 
And then o'er Bethlehem's hills Angels begin 

The song that sings in Christ and Christendom. 

Then, as a mother to the organ grand 

On whose responsive keys her youngling plays, 

Pleased listens for song-fragments the dear hand 
Feels for, and finding, then new chords essays ; 

So, not sore fretted is the Holy One 
At the poor efforts of Earth's infancy, 

But smiles o'er many a lute and lyre undone 
If her taste take to love and minstrelsy. 

O, dear to Him those strains of earlier Earth 
That timid crept among the discords dire, 

And wooed the world to songs of reverent mirth, 
Of helpful hope and eminent desire ! 

But, ever and anon, almost unheard 

Among the Babel cries of wrath and pride, 

Paeans of peace, while oft have strangely erred 
They who the chosen choirs of God should guide. 

19 



20 MOTIF 

O, sad the thought, how God's own nohle souls 
Lift psalms of joy that be well nigh akin, — 

Yet, pitched at different keys, harsh discord rolls 
Through all, entangling very praise in sin ! 

Yet ever down the years more freely flow 
The stronger strains of widening melody. 

While the rude Discords now less stridulous grow, 
And watch God tune His worlds to harmony ! 

He year by year the broken reeds doth mend, 
And holily new instruments invent ; 

So creeds and deeds and peoples without end 
Bring psalms that savor of a sacrament. 

AH Ages add musicians to His Choir, 
All loving Faiths find some mellifluous lays, 

No Wrong but with new zeal sets Love afire, 
No Soul but pays some tribute to the Praise. 

God is Himself eternal Harmony, 

Heaven and the Earth His mighty symphonies ! 
Earth's Anvil-Chorus blends in euphony 

With Hallelujah-Chorus of the skies ! 



THEY came from far, from reverend 
majesties 
Of height where in the Empyrean, 
God, 
As the Ancients had it, stored th' essential 

fire ; 
Those heights where suns unseen by human 

eye 
Through space their even pace in peace 

pursue ; 
Beyond, beyond Arcturus' golden crown, 
Vega, Altair, sapphire and diamond-veined, 
Capella, Sirius, in white robes of state, 
Lusty Orion of star-jewelled girdle ; 
Those spheres so distant even swift-winged 

Light 
Well-nigh forgets her birthplace ere she rests. 

They had wrought well their work, and at its 

close 
Ere to some nobler life they should be lift, 
Permit was given of God long time to range 
Among the orbs that lie, fair Isles of Light, 

21 



22 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

On the dark bosom of Night's boundless sea. 
Fleet wings should bear them whither they 
might please. 

" Perchance," their fellows said, " Perchance," 

they dreamed, 
" Ah, what, if somewhere in their pilgrimage 
They might stumble upon the vagrant star. 
The star so dark — so bright, so bright — so 

dark, 
Where the Light of the World went out, and 

then the more 
Illustriously shone ! " " Nay, dreams be 

dreams ! 
When ye and we and dwellers from all worlds 
Shall in the Central Heavens meet, there we'll 
Compare notes round, and learn the Story 

straight." 
Whereat with sweet " Adieus " forth ward they 

fared. 

Far had they journeyed, much had heard and 

seen ; 
Wonders succeeding wonders ; the great stars 
Of God as wide apart in glory and use 
As in the lonely distances between ; 
Had visited where worlds most numerous 

d well, 
Close clustering to hear respondent song; 
Had lingered there to catch the glad refrain, 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 23 

And thence had bounded on where seemed the 

edge 
Of Cosmos, hopeful shout to throw far out 
Be3'ond to cheer some orb that, overbrave, 
Had wandered off into the wild weird waste ; 
And, lo, no edge of worlds, no voiceless void, 
But, ever on, God's populous Cosmos still ; 
Infinite Sphere with Centre everywhere ! 
Long now their absence, soon the hour at hand 
When they must turn new-homeward past the 

stars 
That touch and thrill us with their pulsing 

beams. 

Their course lay near our Sun, and fair it 

seemed 
To see what on our little globe might thrive 
Of sweetness, or of beauty, or of use 
Superior spheres might not deem worth their 

while : 
As when the traveler, with the city's pride 
Aweary, longs to rest among the soft 
And soothing shadows, and the chirp of birds, 
The conjuring myriad muteness of the wold. 
And bless the blushing ministries of flowers. 

They came in very human guise and dress ; 
The vision of them scared men not outright ; 
And learning their desire to view what might 
Prove new to them, or grand, or excellent, 



24 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Proud of such guests and of our goodl}^ world, 
We ventured their companions to become. 
Alas, provincial World, provincial Men, 
Provincial Science ! Ah, thou puny Earth, 
What canst thou show to star-born visitors ? 
What new to such as through God's firmament 
Of amplitudinous length and breadth have 
searched ? 

We toiled adventurous toward the mountain's 

crown. 
Along its jagged sides peered down its deep 
Abysms of silences, and then afar 
Upon the fertile plains; then onward pressed 
Till on the smoking su*mmit awed we stood. 
The mad volcano, lifting high his head, 
Storming and breathing fire, and thundering, 
Seemed like some giant of enormous mould. 
Hot with his rage, his huge trunk writhing 

hard 
With groans and oaths and wrestlings fierce 
To get him free, shaking the continents ! 

Then said the Strangers, not contemptuously, 
But mindful of the grandeur of the scene : 
" O Men, yon little ball the Master lights 
And for your night's illumining hangs serene 
Upon your starry ceiling there, yon Moon 
Hath heights of mountain that dwarf these to 
hills; 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 25 

And caverns where, if the avenging mount 
That rained deep burial on Pompeian art 
And sin, some mighty Alp exacting death 
From such as touch his crown, lone Fugisan 
Whose Lotus head salutes not slumbrously 
The far, fast rising sun, or th' dazzling domes 
Of Asia's mountains fit for vast empires 
And ancient faiths ; if these were in affright 
To haste and hide from some avenger, they 
Might find in lunar depths secure retreat, 
"Well buried out of sight from savage search ! 

" And these steep precipices ; once stood we 
On those mysterious rings that strongly gird 
Yon planet named for Jove's great sire (such 

crown 
Nor any of his children wore!) on th' edge 
Of those grand fire-born fillets have we stood, 
Where myriad play-worlds dance their merry 

round. 
Nor fear the frown of Saturn's mighty eye ; 
And gazed adown depths underlying depths, 
(Tenebrious light from many mingling moons !) 
Adown abysses more, till far beneath 
The awful heights as more than round this 

Earth 
And then around once more, so many leagues 
Below lay Saturn's boundless surfaces ; 
One would as soon leap off the high-noon Sun 
As down that planetary precipice ! " 



26 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

Then to thy solemn splendors, lo, we come, 
Niagara, whom mighty lakes attend ! 
These pausing on thy heights libations pour 
In honor of the river-god, who thence, 
Now with a wild storm-joy, now calralier, 
But ever with his full majestic might 
Shall bear them onward to the waiting sea ; 
Libations, O Niagara, such as 
Ne'er e'en immortal lavished or received 
Beneath Olympus' ancient hallowed height; 
River of one eternal flow and flame, 
River of ceaseless whirling depths of gems 
All raolte/i together, amethyst and pearl, 
Rare agates, tourmalines and chrysolite, 
And rubies blushing that they be so fair, 
And diamonds playing they be elfin stars. 
Bright sapphires like lost fragments of the sky ; 
All to a magic fate obedient ; 
Now solvent in the flowing emerald, 
Clouded and argent, iridescent, gold, 
(As 'twere where God got all His jewels from. 
Or made, or stored them for great worlds !) 
River so over-full of glory there e'er rests 
Upon the reverend rising incense-cloud 
A bow of sevenfold splendors, such as God 
Is used to hang over His bending sky ! 
Meanwhile from out the awful altar depths 
There swell such thunder-tones of psalm as 

seem 
Some noble jubilate of the globe ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 27 

Before thee, O Niagara, these from far 
Long stood in reverent admiration mute ; 
Awed by thy majesty, thy mighty praise, 
Thy power, they speechless stood. Then did 

we see 
Them looking up afar, and we did hear 
Them to each other hint of what long time 
Ago had come to them as rumf5¥>*strange 
Of glories in the far, far heights beyond 
The stars. 

Surprised into surprising speech, 
At last, cried they : 

" Lo, triumphing echoes these 
Of the voice of a great multitude, the voice 
Of many waters ; thunderings of joy — 
The joy of harpers harping with their harps. 
And chanting their new song before the throne ! 
Surely these be faint echoes of that praise, 
And in these waters we but see the dim 
Keflections of the upper glory, where 
Dazzle in brightness all ineffable 
The golden pavement and the gates of pearl, 
The walls of jasper and chalcedony. 
Of topaz, sardonyx, and amethyst ; 
Fair as a bride that for the bridegroom waits 1 
Lo, too, the Rainbow round the Throne of 
God ! " 

With throbbing heart thence to the rocky shore 
Where restless Ocean seeks to pass her bounds, 



28 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

We journeyed. Sportive played the sea, as 

when 
A lioness well-fed frisks with her young. 
So while the strong sea lapped and kissed the 

sands, 
Upon her breasts the frolicsome waves did 

play 
In roguish tumbling and diverting chase. 
Now fierce as starved lioness for prey, 
Put hard at bay by howling, hounding winds ; 
With terrible glare and roar she leaps the 

rocks 
Appalled ; leaps wildly back into the main 
And swallows ravenously the venturous craft. 
Ah, pity, now, for such as meet her rage ! 

Calmly the star-born visitors beheld, 
Pleased with the sea's immensity and power, 
The splendor of her storms, her crystal calm, 
Her gentle undertone of solemn praise. 
Her winds' wild terror, her waves' thunderous 

bass ; 
What mad, mad music when the mad sea 

tries ! 
Day by sweet day some gentle symphony, 
'Twould lull to sleep the shepherds and their 

flocks ; 
Next, merrier music o'er the rolling plain 
Where dance the bright waves as to nature's 

waltz ; 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 29 

Now slow pours by a deep and holy psalm 
Angels would listen to with pleased ear ; 
This turning to a solemn march as though 
A triumphing hero with his troop were come ; 
Now distant thunders boom and roar and near ; 
Now 'tis as though all instruments of sound 
Did energetic strike and breathe, — lyre, lute. 
Hautboy and bugle, drum and fife and horn, 
Trumpet and cornet, organ, cymbal, harp ; 
As though through these the winds breathed 

angry joy. 
As though on those the waves did mightily 

drum, 
"While right and left lightning loud beat the 

time ! 
'Twere worth their while for gods to pause 

and hear ! 

Well pleased our guests with all they saw and 

heard ; 
Then pointing toward the Sun, with pensive 

gaze 
They looked on their companions by the sea ; 
Nor envy moved us, only wonder grave, 
As spake they : 

" Yon fair globe but rolls in fire ; 
It hath but one perpetual gulf from pole 
To pole, from east to its extremest west, 
And from hot centre out upon the plain ; 



30 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

A very endless torment of huge flame ; 
Fire-waves that speeded by the seething blasts 
Drive like old Neptune's steeds across the 

seas, 
And leap in quenchless pain high in the sky 
As yonder moon hangs far above your heads. 
Tempests there rage to which these storms are 

calms, 
Wherein your Earth would scarce survive a 

day ! " 

"We shuddered as they spake ; the groaning 

ground 
We stamped, to learn if all were firm and safe ; 
Then wondered whether our guests by some 

mishap 
Had not in mind those regions of the lost. 
Where he of Florence, her exile and her pride. 
Was by the shade of gentle Virgil led, 
Through dolorous wails and hot Tartarean 

fires. 
They caught our wondering, and quick re- 
plied : 

"Not Hell, but Heaven's heat glows in yon 

Sun, 
His radiant beams warm grateful distant 

spheres. 
And to what zones they willing turn towards 

him 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 31 
He grants the laughing spring and summer 

joy; 

To such as else had slept in changeless night 
He gives the day enriched by fruitful toil ; 
No wonder planets move their smiling cheeks 
Toward him for morning kiss; and by him 

drawn 
Never from his attractions turn in scorn, 
But in his wide embraces glow and sing ! " 

Thus on from scene to scene ; nor angry they, 
Nor we, that all so plain and meagre seemed ; 
Nay, God be praised His works so wondrous 

here 
Be thus o'ermatched by grander glories there ! 
Still, sorrowful we for such long luckless 

search, 
And tearful they that we were grieved. Yet 

forth 
To cranching icebergs in the north we passed, 
"Where Nature vainly travails to the birth. 
Whence few return as from the Cyclops' 

caves ; 
"Where e'en the powerful Sun dare not abide. 
But as though fearful lest its darkness quench 
His light, or coldness freeze his fires, he keeps 
His summer off, and circles distantly, 
"With eyes just peering o'er the horizon's edge ; 
And through long winter leaves it to thp 

freaks 



32 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

Of frozen oceans, glacial grind and creak, 
Of cold auroral flashes, spectral fires 
That warm not, fruit not, only glorify 
The universal solitude and death ! 

Most gladly thence unto the fervid zone 
"Where Nature happy birth and sustenance 

gives 
To many a wildness, beauty, joy and use. 
And hurt ; where life is joyous tanglement 
Of conscious growths, flowers vocal, perfumed 

song ; 
One wide intoxication of delight ! 
O, is God kinder here than at the poles ? 
Does He, so just, exact of different zones 
Of earth, and different zones of men, the like 
Exuberance of fruitage, joy and love ? 
The coldly and the warmly born and placed 
He knows, and wisely bids each bear his own. 
Sweet Justice, Mercy strong, we trust in 

Thee! 

Thence to those worthier lands, where loyal 

toil 
Is wont to reap her harvests of content ; 
"Where, tangled forests and enfevered fens 
Removed, the wastes soon blossom like the 

rose ; 
"Where wheatened praires lie and hay-sweet 

vales. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 33 

Where thrives the spindle with th' industrious 

wheel ; 
Where Yulcan forges with diviner art 
For these our late imperial centuries 
Such armors and equipments as excel 
The strength and beauty of Achilles' shield. 

Thence to the conclaves of the great and wise, 
Where all the learning of the ancient years 
And all that our New Time is thinking of, 
In art and science, love and law and life, 
Are sorted into various knowledges 
And turned to human weal and glory of God. 

To these, to all, we lead in vain our guests. 
Alas, provincial World, provincial Men, 
Provincial Science ! Poor, poor little Earth, 
What canst thou show to heavenly visitants ? 
What new to such as through star-realms have 

searched ? 
A trifling hour of travel of the light 
Far out of sight leaves thine enfeebled rays. 
Thy nations and thy sciences and fames 
Are transient as thy quick dissolving clouds. 
Those vaster spheres what populations crowd ; 
What bulk and weight of star, what ponder- 
ous 
Great gravities, what virile might of winds 
When God turns round His big electric globes ! 
Who dwell where powers so puissant bear sway 



34 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Must have athletic frames and brawny souls, 
Be chivalrous in daring, strong of will. 
With high prerogatives of help or hurt, 
Builders of thrones, of empires and of arts. 
Dwarfing our mundane history by feats 
Of might and prowess, and of big-braiued 
heart ! 

Now thoughts of quick leave-taking filled 

their minds ; 
Nor planned we for their entertainment more ; 
Sad we and they, each for the other's pain. 
Yet lingered they and we, unwilling still 
To speak the farewell word. Auspicious 



pause 



"We had been ranging through the Orient 
Among the ruins of the power and pride 
Of ancient nations ; nor could scarcely tell 
Whether to mourn the more o'er cities wrecked 
Once glorious in letters, art and war ; 
Or over living peoples that were dead 
And buried under burdening wrongs ; alas, 
All moldered into rottenness and dust 
By chemistries more cruel than the grave's ! 

II 

Paused we a while near sacred Salem's walls, — 

Jerusalem, the city once so proud, 

Now long consigned to her sad hopelessness. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 35 

In the vale we stood that separates and joins 
The city and Mount Olivet, — they and we 
To bid our long Farewell, — when suddenly 
Cried one of them : 

" This air is tremulous 
With voices strange ! ' Tis heavy-laden too 
With some great woe ; ' tis fragrant with a love 
Our orb knew not ! Sculptured in it, behold, 
A Face, a Form, a Sweetness, and a Strength, 
Transcending all pertaining to human kind. 
Transcendent in deep beauty — and deep woe ! 
What aileth it ? The very rock He kneels 
Against in prayer would soften to a pillow 
For that poor aching head ! What aileth it ? 
What aileth us — our vision and our hearts — 
That ours should be such weird discovery ? 
Is it that God hath granted us again 
That exquisite subtlety of sense which is 
The property of dwellers on our star, 
Thus far denied us in our journeying. 
So on each world we visit we shall use 
Only such powers as Nature there ordains ? 
Hath He our psychic, supernatural sense 
Restored? Sure, Earth hath more than en- 

tereth 
Provincial eye or ear or thought of men ! 
The air is filled with awful prodigy ; 
No such strange atmosphere on other globe ; 
The very ground doth sweat with tears and 

prayers ; 



36 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

And there be signs of angels having been 
About ! Their wing-marks verily visible here ! 
The elements bear witness to the might 
"Wherewith they fortified some ancient Soul 
Of more than manly manliness in strange 
Immeasurable agony ! His cries 
Yet quiver in these suffering winds. O, here 
"Was something brave and great. Behold, 
These ancient trees will not consent to die, 
E'en now have lived through aged centuries 
To keep alive the tale of love and woe. 
Sure, once this place was very full of God ! 
"What, what if on this humble sphere we meet 
Some awful Mystery, from ages hid. 
To the intent that now unto the Powers 
And Principalities in heavenly places 
God's manifolded Wisdom be revealed." 

He ceased. Nor we, nor his companions 
chose 
To break the spell of the deep stillness ; such 
O'erawing spell as one might well-nigh hear ! 
It minded one of that wide silence, which 
Through its august supreme half-hour ruled 

Heaven ; 
"When blast of trumpet blew not, the redeemed 
Ceased singing, and the eternal joy grew mute 
At what the next great seal might open forth ! 
So, silent we; silent in wonder grave; 
Silent, alas, for shame ; for shame that we, 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 37 

Unfolding what Earth had illustrious, 
Had ne'er rehearsed the story of the Cross 
And Him who for our succor died thereon ! 

Then did we marvel at that heaven-born sense 
Whereby our guests saw things invisible, 
And found the soundless air replete with 

speech ; 
All spiritual substances so real 
That solar beams mere slanting shadows 

seemed. 
And solid ground but thin transparent air. 
Then knew we that the things we see are not ; 
What our crude senses catch not, these abide ! 
With awe, with pride, we gazed upon our 

guests 
Clearly with so superior powers endued. 
Now how did their majestic forms dilate; 
How tall they grew, colossal, glorious ! 
What piercing vision, vivid consciousness ; 
What quick and delicate privity of thought ; 
What radiant glow of ecstasy, and then 
Most princely grace and graciousness ! 
O, can it be most far famed cherubim 
Stand forth in more impressive lustrousness ? 

Meanwhile, the more effulgent they became. 
The more ethereal, invisible ; 
To God, though, and their like, most real and 
grand. 



38 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Now faded they into the subtle, strange, 

Intangibility of angel-substance! Ah, 

How near God seemed to us ; and quick 

thought we 
Whether this might not be the way He meant 
We men from our mortality should pass 
To life beyond. Sweet would such passage be ! 
Not in that racking way our sins made choice ; 
Through sickness, anguishes, and death-decay. 
Meant He not rather, when our work was 

done, 
And we with happy toil had earned our rest, 
And more and more like Him had grown, it 

should 
Be ours to melt away into the heavenly light, 
Soul-life dissolving this our sensuous, 
And we before the faces of fond friends 
Pass unto our divine beatitudes ? 
Ay, sweetly fading into brighter light ! 
Fading — as fades brown bud into fair flower; 
Fading — as fades a sorrow into joy ; 
Fading — as moaning fades into rich song; 
Fading — as fades dim twilight to broad day ! 
Fading ? Let death fade to immortalness ! 

Now midst this radiant transformation scene. 
What gentle voices brake upon our hearts 
As listening joy gat o'er her first surprise. 
First sad and soft, a plaintive aria. 
With wonder filled and pleased bewilderments ; 



The divine processionjl 39 

Then tender requiems blent with anthemed 

joy; 

When, as with clearer light the rapture grew, 
A song burst forth men might attempt in vain. 
Some angels must have flown down from the 

sky, 
And myriad heavenly strangers joined their 

choir ! 
A most delicious tumult of such praise, 
As though from all the radiant spheres our 

guests 
Had visited had floated hither strains 
Of their selectest melodies ; as though 
The ancient songs of God's bright Morning 

Stars 
Had fallen in pieces, and come quivering down, 
A shower of shining, singing meteors ! 

Soon, though, we heard the wondering stran- 
gers speak, 

Both they and we by reverent awe subdued. 

And it did seem that great Invisibles 

Ineffable thoughts did give to them, which they 

Might scarce interpret to themselves. Still 
were 

By us the Unbeholden well-nigh seen ; 

So close our fellowship and touch with Seers ! 

We meanwhile silent, only at times impelled 
Our wondering praise in broken lays to sing ; 



40 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Silent and awed, as on that ancient night, 
That Holy Night,^') when God's and the 

World's own Babe 
"Was born. Hushed grew the angel-cry ; then 

hushed 
The noiseful Earth as God a Babe became. 
Glad Joseph walking, walked not ; o'er the cave 
The Star stood ; this the rest observing held 
Their stedfast places in th' adoring sky ! 
Who ate, ate not. Dear nursing lambs but 

touched 
The dripping udders of the bleating dams 
To taste not, musing in some tender way 
Of the dear spotless Lamb of God, just born, 
In sacrifice to die ! E'en birds of night. 
Owl, hawk, unreverent bat, in mid-air hung, 
As though in wonder what their fate, when 

the Light 
Of the World should bid the Darkness flee ! 

Waters 
Of brook and billow, fountains and falling 

rains. 
On the instant paused, in honor of the Life 
That in its depths and breadths was Fountain 

pure 
Wherein the World should bathe, and cleansed 

be! 

This, then, we heard the wondering wanderers 

say: 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 41 

"Alas, poor World, what hath behappened 

thee? 
What pensive joy hath thee so beautified ? 
What holy bitterness hath sweetened thee ? 
What awful Presence doth this spot invade ? 
What angel wings have stirred this sensitive 

air? 
What story, venerable Trees, have ye 
Outlived great centuries to tell ? Survive 
Shall ye till the All-Master come again ? 
Will live so He may once again, not bow 
In tears, but stand full-height your branches 

glad 
Among, and once again His enemies 
Forgive, and bless those years agone, wherein 
For sins of men He groaned in travail-pains ? 
Will stand, scarred Olives, till He come again ? 
Will stand until His triumph be complete ? 
Will stand till Earth by fire be glorified. 
And every vestige of the curse be gone, — 
Save sacred wounds whereby Earth's wounds 

are healed." 

What aileth thee, poor troubled Earth ? 

Why heaves thy bosom so ? 
Dost bear the burden of what mirth, 

The sweetness of what woe ? 

What aileth thee, thou quivering Air? 

Art brushed by Angel wing? 
What moves thee now to sad despair, 

And now with joy to sing? 



42 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

Ye aged Olives, strangely strong, 
"What griefs have weighed ye down ? 

What grace maintained ye all along 
These ages of renown ? 

Surely, how dreadful is this place ! 

God hath borne burden here ? 
Take off thy shoes, low bow thy face ; 

Worship with reverent fear ! 

" Let us around this fateful spot. Perchance 

Some new adventure may befall us. See, 

Whither may lead these footprints ? Wearied 
was 

The traveller, and travailing painfully. 

Here bent His knees in prayer; and here as 
though 

Some baleful burden bent Him down. He went 

Into the Temple ; was He Priest ? To th' Pal- 
ace ; 

Was He King? Thence out to Calvary ; 

Was it to see some ruffian tortured ? Here 

Be signs He dragged a cross up after Him ; 

Shall He make sure the villain die ; intent 

Upon it so Himself will carry it 

Though He shall faint upon the way? Re- 
venge ! 

— Ay, here have been divine revenges ! He 

His own cross carried — and the sins of many ! 

He on Himself did lay the sins of all. 

— How dreadful is this place ! True God was 
here. 



THE D I FINE PROCESSIONJL 43 

" Sure once this place was full of God ; and He, 
Himself, must have been very full of God ! 
O, ne'er on other worlds such spectacle ; 
Ne'er wickedness so venturous in revolt ; 
Nor Love so amorous of self-sacrifice 
She had quite died had death denied her been. 
By sin was Love here pinioned to the Cross, 
And pinioned fast and dead most regnant 
proved ! 

" Lo, now before us Vision rare and grand ; 
The Cross ! The Cross on which the Anointed 

died! 
Lo, now the Cross, spectral at first, and dread ; 
Carved out full clearly to our view ; on it 
Hangs One so like and yet so unlike man ! 
Nature has ne'er recovered from the shock 
Of that great tragedy ; and where the two 
Stout timbers crossed, and towards the frown- 
ing sky 
Held up the self-uphelping Son of God, 
The conscious elements with horror struck 
Have taken form of awful Crucifix 
And glorious Christ ; shocked, frozen, crys- 
talled hard 
Into exactest copy ; here to stand 
While this sad world shall last ; immovable, 
Unwasting under wear of years; nor bows 
To winds ; nor knows dissolving rains ; nor 
heeds 



44 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

The burning sun, or smiles, or tears of men ! 
Grim, cold and hard, it stands forever — the 

Cross, — 
Man put that up ; rigid and firm it stands ; 
Only it shudders with the thought how once 
It heaved beneath the tremor of the Christ 
In lonesome death ; but the image of Christ 

thereon. 
This ever glows with grace and peace divine; 
Forevermore it weeps and loves and prays : 
' Father, forgive, they know not what they 

do!' 
Sweet and o'ercoming prayer He oft had 

prayed ; 
Lo, wearied Nations look to Him, and live ! 

Ill 

" But Nature here will not, and cannot, stay 
Her grief. In that high urgent hour when her 
Dear Lord yielded His affluent life for man, 
She groaned aloud, and with vast horror 

shook. 
Too dazed she was to see the midday sun, 
And so bereft of nerve that e'en the dead 
Did take advantage of her straits, and they 
Who through starvations, poisons, pestilence. 
Or crucifixions, or most wild despairs. 
Had lost all strength, did stronger prove than 

she; 
And open burst the rock-locked sepulchres ; 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 45 

And wondering wandered through the won- 
dering streets. 

Not o'er her grief hath Nature gotten yet ; 

Lo, 'neath this Wonder-Cross she weepeth 
still. 

Where Mary knelt, and wrung her hands as 
woe 

Did wring her heart, poor Nature lingers now, 

An aged form, bowed down with years and 
tears ; 

And as she kneels, forward and backward 
bends ; 

And on her head unceasingly she casts 

The funeral ashes of her burned-up hopes 1 " 

O then what woe our inmost spirits stirred 
As they and we her lamentations heard. 

" Woe ! Woe is me ! Why am I punished 

thus? 
Why hath thus perished my beloved Son ? 
For mine was He as well as God's dear Son ! 
O, what did I, bereaved thus to be ? 
Why did I bear Thee, Christ ? Why nourish 

Thee 
Upon the swelling bosom of my joy ? 
Why feed Thee tenderly only to make 
Thee fat for sacrifice ? Poor Child, had I 
But died, quenching Thy life ere yet Thou 

light 



46 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Beheldest ! Had I Herod's sword let smite, 
Thou would'st have smiled upon its keen 

bright flash ! 
Why let I live the wicked sons of men, 
Who, needing Thee, would still mistreat Thee 

so, 
And nail Thy blessed body to the Cross? 
O, why made I to grow the fateful trees 
Whose timbers should be forced to such base 

use? 
Since that Dark Day, the Aspen hath not 

got 
Over her shivering fright at the sad sight ; 
Whilst yet grow trees that held Him to His 

death ; 
Cedar, His feet ; the body, Cyprus, tall ; 
The Palm, His hands ; Olive, His title mock, (^) 

*I[j.aou<s 6 BaffiXkug tcov ^luvdaituv ! * 

" Thou cruel Wood, what gave thee strength 

to uphold 
So weighty a crime, so weighty a sufferer. 
Such weight of tortured love ? Why took'st 

not fire 
From men's hot passion, from Christ's burning 

love. 
With flame-swords scaring His tormentors oflP ? 
Infelix lignum ! Pectus infelix ! f 

* "Jesus, the King of the Jews ! " 

t " Unhappy Wood ! Unhappy Heart ! " 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 47 

Ah, wretched me ! Thou blundering, cruel 

Spear, 
How could'st thou, though great Rome did 

press thee hard. 
Thus wanton press into the sore-hurt heart 
Of that dear Sufferer, and not at once 
Lose all thy steely hardness and dissolve 
In love ? O, wretched me, to have such 

part 
In such most wretched work ! 

"But this I did; 
"When unto me was handed back my dear 
Dead Child, my murdered Lord, though by 

Kome's seal 
Imperial the tomb was closed, I held 
So lightly down the massive slab it must 
Quick yield to the most delicate angel-touch ; 
And forth He came, alive, illustrious, strong 
To upraise a great dead world from out its 

grave ! 
And when. His mission ended. He returned 
To Heaven, my most resplendent clouds I 

called 
To be His fitting chariot and steeds, 
Immantled with superbest draperies ; 
And over them the sun His rainbows hung ; 
And round about them angels flung their 

praise. 
O, they did vie with the transplendencies 



48 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Of the Pearl-Gates through which He conquer- 
ing passed, 
Hailed King of Kings, and august Lord of All ! 

"Yes, and some day He shall come back 
again ; 

The worlds shall own Him then, all their 
bright host ; 

Then shall my echoing thunders welcome Him 

With triumphing salute heard round the globe ! 

Not the full-orbed sun shall light the world 

Enough ; my lightnings round His feet shall 
play; 

My fair cloud-steeds and chariots shall con- 
duct 

Him down, and to His throne! Ay, as He 
went, 

So in like manner shall He come again. 

Even so. Lord Jesus ; quickly come ! Amen." 

Lo, Nature will not yet, though, o'er her 

grief ; 
Her tears fall full abundant as the rains ; 
Still sits she down beneath this mystic Cross ; 
Low bows her head ; and moaning, o'er it 

casts 
Unceasingly her ashes of despair ! 

" Poor Me, poor Me ! To nurse so sweet a 
Child, 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 49 

Vicarious victim of so woeful wrongs ! 
Strange fortune mine. First He gave life to 

me ; 
Then I to Him ; this then I rudely wrenched 
From Him ; when He in turn gave ampler 

life 
To me. O, most unfortunate fortune mine ; 
Would my misfortune might as fortunate be ! 
— Alas, my head grows crazed with my heart, 
And midst my hopes I cannot stay my tears ! 

" O Walls of Salem ! Share with me my woe ; 

Nor builded be ; nor echoing with shout 

Of happy habitant! And ye surrounding 

Hills, 
Once mirthful with the vineyard's dance and 

Cease bearing now, I pray. The world else- 
where 

Shall bloom with beauty ; but, O Hills and 
Vales 

Of Palestine, that at your Master's smile 

Once thrilled, O Fields that once rejoiced to 
give 

Eefreshment to the wearied Son of Man, 

I pray, let no fruit grow on ye henceforth ; 

Only our weeds of mourning let us wear. 

Ay, let's to our Gethsemane awhile! 

Here watch with me while I shall weep and 
pray. 



50 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

God ! God ! Where be Thy strengthening 

angels now, 
To help me say : ' Thy will, not mine be 

done'?" 
Thus bitterly did Nature vent her woe. 

IV 

" Ah, would we were but angels," ( thus we 

heard 
The Voices from this scene ineffable,) 
"Would we were gifted angels, through this 

night 
So dark, so long, of struggle and of prayer, 
To give thee solace, Mother ! We would wipe 
Thy tears, would mingle sweetness in thy cup, 
Would nourish thee unto such patient hope, 
That through love's fond and firm expectan- 
cies 
Thy cup's black dregs should smack of luscious- 
ness! 

" Nature, thou knowest not, nor thou, O Man, 

The amplitude of meaning in the Cross ; 

Nor we, nor angels know, though they through 

all 
These years into its mysteries have searched. 
None know it well, nor can ; the anguish of 't, 
Nor yet the anguishes it grandly heals ; 
Man's stupid wrath, nor Christ's wise ways of 

love ; 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 51 

Man's depths of woe, nor his exalted ness ; 
The glory he threw away, nor the new crown 
The Lord doth crown him with ; the acrid gall, 
The wine of human love turned sour which sin 
Made the forgiving Christ to drink ; all this 
We may not comprehend. We only know 
That, better than the fabled fountain sought 
In realms remote in vain. He opened up 
In man's own breast the fount whose healing 

flow — 
Too often sealed by blundering self-thought — 
Eeclaims from most importunate disease, 
Transforms a very ugliness to grace. 
And palsied age to brave immortal youth. 
We only know, that as fair Thetis, 'gainst 
Olympus' laws, the dead Patroclus wrapped 
In rare ambrosia of the gods, to save 
From grave and worm, for honored funeral- 
pyre 
And worthy obsequies, his godlike form ; 
So Christ in a retaliation most 
Complete for His most bitter draught, brought 

Heaven's 
Own precious nectar down, not 'gainst the 

laws. 
But all accordantly with God's decree ; 
And with it He did wash the ugly wounds 
And quench the thirst of dying enemies, 
Nursing them up to everlasting life ! 
O, for a brave, kind man a man might die ; 



52 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Christ baffles death in djing for His foes ; 
Transforming hate to wondering laud and 
love ! 

"0, Love, who made thee? and of what? 

Report 
Thyself. Art hero, daughter, mother, priest, 
Of what god ? Whence thy way of balancing 
Accounts ? Such sweetness for man's bitter 

gall; 
The murder of God's Son repaying thus 
With joyous immortality on high ? 
Ah, Love, tell, tell us, were thy tears quite 

meant 
Thou sheddest over sin, and suffering Christ ? 
Was not thy woe seasoned with a faint bliss ? 
Did'st thou not joy and triumph in the threat 
Of such most sweet revenges ? Tell us. Love, 
Who happy gave thee birth? Who art thou? 

Speak ! 
Since God is Love, is Love then very God ? 
Or, if He hath His God, is it thou. Love ? 
O, if aweary He doth ever grow 
With the forced prayers and praises of the 

world. 
By its unwholesome incense suffocate, 
And, deafened by its praying gong and horn, 
Exclaim out of fatigue divine : ' I, too. 
Would seek my sweet refreshment in a prayer ! ' 
O Sovereign Love, shall He not look to thee ? 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 53 

" Ay, what is Worship ? Is it but to watch 

The sky for vespers, and the waking cock 

To crow the hour when men may matins say ? 

Is it to burn so many candles hour 

By hour ? Is it to wear a sorry look 

In this bright world, and starve oneself at 

fasts ; 
"When sin the rather needs be starved out, 
And God were better pleased were men but 

pleased 
With what He gives them richly to enjoy ? 
Is 't worship of the holy Lord to measure off 
So many yards of stuff for vestments, ay, 
Of stuff ? The prayers men heedless mouth, 

the hymns 
They sing for admiration, or perchance 
Pay for, only to grumble afterwards : 
' The choir did murder them ; ' or, ' Now let's 

clap 
This Miserere ! Bravely done ! ' Alas, 
To clap a dirge ! to encore a requiem 
That hymns the sacred sorrows of the Lord;- 
Immortal love in mortal agonies ! 

" These be but stuff, not worship. Never so 
Doth great Jehovah. But to pray, to praise, — 
If these consist in holy reverence 
And noble pity and strong helpfulness. 
In joy o'er all tliat's good, mercy for them 
That sin, life-giving for life-taking, one 



54 THE DIVINE PROCESSIOMJL 

Supreme devotion to the supreme good, 

In worthy love of what unlovely is, 

In seeking but to bless ; then sweet, strong 

Love, 
O, if there be some mystic worship which 
The Lord would pay, it sure must be to thee ! 

"Nay, Nature, thou yet knowest not, nor 
Man, 

Nor Angel, the deep purposes of Love ; 

The infinite intentions of the Cross. 

Illustrious disclosure this, of grace, 

Of worship, service, admirable God ! 

In place of servile enemies He dies ; 

His life they spoil in one short cruel hour 

Good quittance pleads for murderous cen- 
turies ; 

The blood demanded 'gainst all laws of men 

Makes satisfaction to the laws divine; 

Man's spear of wrath transfixes Christ to 
death, 

Christ's spear of love transfigures man to life ! 

Man stretched far out the arms of anguished 
Christ, 

Thereby to nail Him firmlier to the wood ; 

' So be,' saith Love, ' stretch them to th' utter- 
most. 

So they embrace wide scattered sons of men ! ' 

Type evermore of sacrifice ! God will 

Not leave the chrism of pain to man alone ; 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 55 

He too will share the sacrament of tears. 
Blameless and pure, His Son bears sins of 

men ; 
Dies, glorious sacrifice, upon the Tree ; 
Lo, Nature dies for nature, man for man, 
Now for them both Christ craves the cruel 

Cross ! 
No world of goodlier gods to suffer for, 
He hastes to make inhuman man divine ; 
And taking on Himself the mortal form. 
All the more godlike strikes the wondering 

worlds ! 

" O, hath this not divine significance ? 
Hath God for Pontine Marshes more regard 
And favor than for healthful Alban Hills ? 
Have fevers their contagion ; hath not love ? 
Will creatures not love's choice infection catch, 
Most welcome plague with sure, sweet fatal- 

ness? 
O, wholesome Pestilence, would the sick 

world 
Infected were by thee, by thee ! Ah, yes, 
If fevers be contagious why not love ? 
O, if God strike some wondrous harmony, 
And it go on resounding through the earth, 
Shall forests, bending skies, and rocky heights. 
And old dead walls of houses tenantless, 
All have their echoes ; but shall Souls have 

none? 



56 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Or, will not all respond in grateful praise, 
Until ere long the wide Creation falls 
Into august unisonance of psalm ? 

" Ay, who hath guaged the might of godlike 

Love ? 
Hath she not braver, swifter wing than Light, 
And power to melt where sun-heat shall but 

chill ? 
Kindleth she not a kindlier, kinglier spring, 
Making new worlds resplendent with new 

grace ? 
The distant heavens feel thy glow, O Love, 
And the benign and blest infection take. 
The burning constellations of the sky 
Are moved by an unen vying jealousy. 
And, since on this but half-illumined orb 
With alternating night and day the sign, 
The Sign by which God conquers, stands erect. 
And not on them ; their most resplendent gems 
They choose, and by strange art inspired they 

group 
In figure cruciform ; and far aloft, 
Adown, abroad, blazes the Southern Cross, 
Outshining and eternal, signaling 
God's Banner over all the world is Love 1 " 

Regions Uuknowu, the Equator far beyond, 

'Mongst whose chill splendors screams the Albatross, 
Tell me of what ye be most proudly fond. 
"The Pole-star of the Cross ! " 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL S7 

O Southeru Seas, will deign to tell me how 

Your ruainuers, whose barks your winds wild toss 
By uight, know whither to bend the anxious prow ? 
"The Pole-star is the Cross! " 

Ye deep entangled Southern Forests, say, 

When on me buried in your mire and moss 
Weird dark comes down, how may I find my way ? 
"The Pole-star is the Cross!" 

Spectral Auroras of the Southern Pole, 

Of your transcendent glories hint the cause; 
What, and why, guard ye with night's bright patrol ? 
" The Pole-Star of the Cross! " 

Ye glittering giant Glaciers, Ice-Peaks stern, 
Earth's utmost zone ye woudrously emboss 
With fearful splendors! What will have me learn? 
"The Pole-Star is the Cross! " 

Far off beyond the utmost stretch of thought, 

God's symbol in yon heavens ever draws 
The reverent eye; and timorous trust is taught 
The Pole-Star is the Cross. 

For joy and safety on life's pilgrim way. 

For sacred triumph in each sacred cause. 
For patience till the Christ o'er all hath sway, — 
The Pole-Star is the Cross! 

Midnight is past; the Cross begins to bend! 

('Mongst ancient legends this a favorite clause,) 
Thou pointest whither God's old Prophets kenned: 
The Pole-star is the Cross! 

Midnight is past! But long as darkness stays 
That faithful sentinel ne'er once withdraws; 
Loyal it stands for every wanderer's gaze — 
True Pole-Stai- of the Cross! 



58 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

Shine on! Shine on! Cross of the Southern Sky! 

Kight triumphs still; Wrong only meets with loss; 
The Conquering Sign reveals God's victory nigh! 
Hail! Pole-Star of the Cross! 



" Nay, not yet is God's purpose of the Cross 
Full known, nor its immense enkindling power. 
Its wise, imperial reach and rescue; nor 
The under, upper, inter-worlds it saves. 
What this great World's made up of none 

may know ; 
A complex thing; wheels within wheels; in 

these 
Yet more ; each hath its orbit ; all agree ; 
Worlds underlie each other, and within ; 
(As once the rapt Augustine said : ' Major 
In magnis^ inaximiis in minimis ! " *) 
Involved, distinct ; within the ugly, fair ; 
Immense in small ; great soul-worlds right in 

clay; 
A myriad glad concurrent interspheres ; 
Unconscious each of other's life and touch ; 
Times, spaces, lives, all multiple in one ! 

" No ear so keen as to o'erhear a vision ; 
No arm so strong as to embrace a flavor ; 
No thirsting lips may feed upon a perfume ; 
No eye behold the clanging battle-sound ! 
Space is not measure of eternity. 

* " Greater in great, greatest in least." — Augustine, 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 59 

Crowd God in a dungeon, He'll crowd worlds 

in there, 
As sometimes He packs seons into days ! 
Where mountains rise roll seas invisible ; 
Where armies fight the mystic dance goes on ; 
Mid forest shades an unseen city's hum ; 
'Neath winter snows spring burrows teasingly ; 
Where sorrow sighs, oft hides jocund surprise ; 
Where darkness reigns a thousand suns be 

bright ; — 
The Lord of Hosts well-nigh bewildering! 
The world o'erflows with fullness ; naught is 

void ; 
Other- world voices fill earth's silences ; 
Where naught appears stand God's illustrious 

hosts ; 
Great world of worlds, and worlds in worlds 

are His ! (*) 

"O, know that God is greater than His 

Avorks ; 
Know well that only He is infinite ; 
That nowhere is there perfect flower or fruit, 
That nowhere yet is perfect plant or man. 
Or worm, or songful bird, or radiant sun ; 
For fairest forms He can new fairness find. 
For noblest psalms more tuneful harmonies. 
For grandest constellations nobler spheres. 
For highest seraph heavenlier dignities. 
For heaven stronger angels, saintlier saints ;— 



6o THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Only the Lord, His Christ, His Spirit, infinite 1 

His glory this, His works age after age 

Still grander grow in glad approach towards 

Him. 
In godlike sons godlikeness thriftliest grows. 

" O, know that God is greater than His 

works ; 
Know well that as there be deep under-realms 
Of things, and over-realms, and realms far 

out, 
(Beyond the farthest e'en yet farther shine !) 
So when thou thinkest to have found out Him, 
Though the eternal years thy quadrant be, 
There be great unexplored firmaments 
Of Deity, vast solemn underworlds 
Of God ; of God in God ; of God outside 
Of God ; (why marvel at the thought of Three 
In One ?) earth's very emptinesses full 
Of Deity ; its crowded fullnesses 
For Him yet finding room ! Space cramps 

Him, time 
Constricts Him, love and justice do ; that is. 
What men call such, not He, tapers beside 
The glowing sun ! And yet what blame hath 

He! 
Infinite God, what breadth of Being Thine! 
What depths of lore, law, love ; unsearchable 
Thy judgments, and Thy ways past finding 

out! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 6i 

" O, think, ye Men, that ye may measure all 
He meaneth in this mighty, matchless deed, 
Wherein He makes incarnate His dear Son ; 
Allies Him to your weak and guilty race ; 
Lets hunger harry Him ; lets enemies 
Oppress Him, friends betray, and fiends 

malign 
From Hell try most unusual artifice ; 
Lets death close fast those eyes, those tender 

eyes, 
That ne'er could close themselves to human 

need ; — 
O, sealed so tight-shut even God is hid. 
And out upon the darkness all around 
The deeper inward darkness cries, 'My God ! 
My God ! why hast Thou too forsaken Me ? ' 
Lo, Nature lifts her anguish-cry e'en yet 
Before this mystic Cross ; ' Why suffered I 
Such suffering to fall on Thee, my Child ? ' " 

Thus to our hearts attent and marvelling 

Interpreted our friends invisible 

The things they learned, knowing full well 

how we 
With eager mind besought the Lord for light. 
And grasped for this new learning, Now a 

deep 
And awful silence gathered round ; nor sound 
Was there of whisper, or the rustle soft 
Of robes and wings unseen. Nature, alert, 



62 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Deep reverent stillness kept. The silence long. 
Then in low-murmuring voice one ventured 
speech. 

" Auguster Presence here ! More wondrous 

woe ! 
Somehow One seemeth to grieve more, e'en 

He, 
The Eternal Father of the Eternal Son ! 
As though on Him hath fallen an infinite 

pain ! 
O, of His woe, His woe ineffable. 
This hallowed scene is conscious. Hear we 

not 
A godlike sorrow godlikely suppressed ? 
Silent be we when the Eternal Love, 
The eternal Wisdom, hath His thought to 

speak ! " 

And now no more heard we our Visitors, 
Save as at times they joined in reverent 
psalm. 

V 

Silent be our worship now, 
As before the Lord we bow, 
Scarcely lifting reverent brow ! 

Open be our ears to hear 
As Jehovah draweth near; 
Inmost prayer and praise sincere. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 63 

What if He have godlike pain 
O'er the blessed Saviour slain, 
Slain for sous of men in vain! 

From the heavens cometh He, 
Kobed in might and majesty. 
Holy One, we worship Thee! 

O the splendors of His face! 
Holy, holy, is this place 
With the glories of His grace! 

Lord! Behold us lowly kneeling; 
To Thy mercy, Lord, appealing! 
Waiting for Thy holy healing! 

Holy, holy, holy Lord, 
By all holy hosts adored! 
Eeverent we attend Thy Word! 

"Attend, my Star-born; and Mine Earth- 
born, hear ! 
And thou, most patient Nature, whose birth- 
pangs 
The heart of thy Creator move ! Hear ye 
My holy purpose in the solemn griefs 
Of struggling, stumbling ages, all to Me 
A pained delight and a delighted pain ; 
As the imperfect towards the perfect strains, 
"Weakness matures to might, and ill to good ! 

" Ye first, or latest born, basest or best. 
Ye ever unforgotten of your Lord ; 
O, ever loved and served and borne-with j 
hear 



64 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Your Maker and your Father's mindful heart ! 
Nor woe, nor joy of your evolving lives, 
But He insists on having His full share. 
— The luxury of Godhead is to love ! 

" First, Nature, My Voice hear ! Hear Him 

who made 
Thee ! Be it likewise Mine to feel with thee ! 
My "Well-Beloved, My Son, before all worlds 
TV as He, of Me, with Me, was with Me One ! 
Not false spake He, ' I am ! ' Fairer was 

He 
Than the effulgent stars. In Him there dwelt 
More might than holds up the sphere-weighted 

skies. 
To bear least semblance to His matchless grace 
Were angel's proudest joy. Well weepest 

thou, 
Dear Nature, that thy bosom, nursing Him, 
Nursed them that nailed Him to the cruel 

Tree! 

" Alas, 'twas Mine to hold My lightnings back 

Vaulting to dash upon His murderers ; 

To check the earth's hot anger, so ne'er 

quaked 
It for the city's overthrow. 'Twas Mine 
To feed their life while they nursed wicked- 
ness; 
To keep still stiff the half-reluctant spear ; 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 65 

To be, Myself, the immament God in steel 
And sneer and Jewish brain and Koman 

power ; 
Myself Mine own Son's slayer ! 

" O, through all 
The ageless aeons never was it Mine 
To see, to bear, to do such work ; Mine own 
Life sharpened into pointed spear to pierce 
The gentle Christ-heart of My blessed Son ! 
Then I with Him the sins of many bare ! 
On Him were laid a world's iniquities ; 
His deepest soul an offering was for sin ; 
'Twas Mine with His hard bruising to be 

pleased ; 
Nor might I turn one blow, nor ease one pain ! 
While He, heroic, drank the vital wine, 
'Twas Mine to keep unto the uttermost 
The life in Him, the willing tortured life ; 
Mine to be life of all this death to Him. 
O, infinite grief of Mine, to keep the world , 
Still moving on, with such strange madness 

mad ; 
Nations and ages bent on ruthless war ; 
O, infinite grief, to hold the sun above, 
While wide and far my sons the blood-tide 

press ; 
To spread over the earth the placid night, — 
Protesting covert for deep-counselling crime ! 
Now Mine, alas, to have to do with this 



66 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Most deepest baseness, this most highest guilt ; 

To let this tragedy be acted out, 

And hold in check the vehement worlds that 

would 
Hurl themselves white-hot 'gainst such fla- 
grant deed ! 

" Yet would He yield His life up so He might 

Lost life restore, diviner life impart, 

And ransom be for sinful sons of men. 

He would unmurmuring to the slaughter go, 

And sorrow, His and Mine, were joy if but 

My wearied wanderers wander back to Me ! 

May the rude spear that opened great Christ's 

heart 
So forth therefrom the precious life-blood 

poured, 
But pierce mayhap the hard-closed hearts of 

men, 
That into them may flow this spilled life 
Of love ! By torn hands to unfeeling Cross 
He clings, so men with stronger grasp may cling 
To Him ! Between two thieves He hangs, so 

men 
Though thieves and outcasts may His pardons 

hear. 
My face I hid from His deep-anguished soul, 
So His full gaze on men might tender turn. 
And yet, ah Me, that I consent must give 
To th' murder of My Son ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 67 

" Strange heartless Earth, 
Right well know I thy sin, have cause to 

know ; 
Into My soul hath passed a grief thou ne'er 
Can'st understand; nor may'st thou compre- 
hend 
How Deity can suffer, th' Infinite 
Have pain ; how e'en apparent failure face 
The Almighty ; nor can'st thou begin to tell 
What Infinite, Divine, Eternal, be. 
From My Incarnate learn what thought thou 

may'st 
Of God ; and know into his heart hath passed 
A pain divinely strange and great. Therefore, 
I plead, how could'st thou My great majesty 
Affront, and slaying My dear Son, offend 
My might and love ? How fall from thy fine 

height 
Of virtue, innocence and beauty ? How 
Could'st wreck immortal fortune for a short 
Day's joy ? How grieve thy Lord to gratify 
His enemy, and thine ? How fill thy years 
On earth with sin and shame, thy years beyond 
With death eternal ? How do such great 

wrong 
My well-beloved Son must needs make haste 
Unto thy rescue, and Himself become 
(He, favorite of angels, Wonderful, 
The Counsellor, the mighty Prince of Peace), 
Thy victor's victim, dying for thy sake ? 



68 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

" But, lo, I bid thee stand, hope, live, o'ercome. 
Lo, I condemn thee not ; go, sin no more. 
Deem Me not slow to grant My Son His prayer 
To die for thee. His choice it was. Such 

bliss 
Had not been His before, — a sacrifice 
For guilt. ' Lo, in the book 'tis writ of Me ; 
I come, I come to do Thy will, O God ! ' 
Think not He with reluctance died. Love, all 
Spontaneous, ne'er conscious is of what 
Men deem a self-denial and a cross. 
For thee, by thee, Man, on lone Golgotha, 
Was He transfixed ; but, far more bitter 

draught 
Had He found heaven's sweetest waters than 
Gethsemane's ; the praise of angel hosts 
More rankling than the mob's wild jeers ; 
The gemmed crown more painful than the 

thorns ; 
The sovereign sceptre heavier in His hands 
Than cross rough-mortised by the blundering 

rage 
Of Jew and Koman, though beneath it sank 
His world-upholding might ; more anguishf ul 
Than nails of iron had proven golden throne ; 
All this had He not hastened from the joy. 
The golden praise and splendor, to redeem 
Earth's perishing souls, and wasting lives and 

hopes ! 
His feet unhasting in their speed. His hands 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 69 

Unurgent of their rescue, had been pierced 
By painfuller nails ; His heart unthrobbing 

whilst 
They perished miserably, had felt a spear 
More poignant ; and His head unmindful how 
To rescue, had been pressed by thornier thorns 
Of disencrowning crown ! 

" O, for sweet Christ 
This thought, this hope, was His most infinite 

joy- 

For Him, for Me, easy to bear what bonds 
Would set My children free. New triumphs 

ours — 
To enter into sad Humanity ; 
To feel and heal its burdens and its sins ; 
So only most divine ! Once scoffers said : 
' Others He saved, Himself He could not save.' 
The wretched falsehood true! Far firmlier 

was 
He pinioned to that Cross by love than those 
Three merciless spikes. Nor man, nor God,' is 

free, 
Save in the larger freedom found in bonds 
Of love. He must die. Choice was His, and 

not. 
One is your Master, Man, e'en Christ ; and He 
Hath His true Master, even Love. Ay, since 
Both He and Love be one, He is, Himself, 
Servant and Master, both, and either free 



70 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

As other well obeyed. Not to save men 
"Were to deny Himself ; and whosoe'er 
Denies Him loseth heaven — be he who 
He may ! Such sacrifice unasked ! Nor would, 
Nor could He spare Himself the tears, the 

tomb, 
The tortures of the Garden and the Tree. 
Others He saved, Himself He could not 

save ! 

"Others He saved. Himself He could not 

save ! 
While to that wood the coarse nails held Him 

fast. 
The great globe angrily did pull on Him, 
Tearing yet more those kind alms-laden palms. 
O, all earth's gravities did draw on Him ; 
The wooded mountains where He oft had 

prayed ; 
The fertile fields His feet had glorified ; 
The wrathful sea He calmed ; — all drew on 

Him! 
No flower whose graceful beauty He had 

preached 
Most gracious sermon from but drew on Him ; 
No ailing frame He'd gladdened with new 

health. 
Or surprised vision of the sun, or sound 
Of friendly voices, but now drew on Him; 
The very winds, inspired with joy, that sped 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL ji 

Fast round the world, perfumed with breath 

of love, 
Freighted with benedictions, drew on Him, 
All the great Globe did angrily draw on Him, 
Tearing so sore those kind alms-laden palms ! 

" Ay, this He minded not. But on Him ground 
The sins and sorrows of My Children, That 
Nigh passed endurance of His sensitive soul. 
The thought of earth's deep penetrative sin. 
Her multitudinous woes ; so though the large 
Diviner Spirit in Him His true prayer 
Essayed, ' Nevertheless, My Father, not 
My will, but Thine be done ' ; the man-heart 

cried, 
' If possible, let this cup pass from Me ! ' 
Not sin in Him, — such broken-heartedness ! 
No sob of infant, not one dungeon groan. 
Not one hair-whitening fright, not one outcry 
Of despoiled purity, not one great heave 
Of heart for rest, not one impassioned prayer 
For pardon, not one frenzied shriek from 

midst 
Hot lustful flames, not one low-sighed com- 
plaint. 
But drew on Him ! The mighty anguishes 
Of armed hosts battalioned 'gainst or for 
The Wrong, did draw on Him ! The pomp of 

pride. 
The lusts of fleshliness, the heartlessness 



72 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Of hate, the brave souls vanquished fool- 
ishly, 
Long ages of oppression, aeons drunk 
With strife ; O, these did draw on Him ! 
For this became He Son of Man. In Him 
No comeliness ; no beauty to desire ; 
Of men despised, rejected, One with grief 
Acquaint ; from whom their face was hid, and 

Mine ! 
Smitten of Me, they deemed ; but wounded 

deep 
For their transgressions ; and His chastise- 
ment 
Their peace ; His stripes their health ; on Him 

by Me 
Were laid the iniquities of all. He bare 
The sins of many ; for transgressors prayed. 
O, all this world did angrily draw on Him, 
Tearing so sore those kind alms-laden palms ! " 

" O My Father! O My Father! 

Dark death hath o'ertaken Me! 
Press Me sore earth's sins and sorrows, 

Why hast Thou forsaken Me ? " 
Lo, the Son of God outcrying 

In an infinite distress; 
'0 0£6<i fiou, '0 ^ed? /lou,* 

El? Tc /J.£ iykariXnte? ; 

* " H6, The6s mou, Ho, The6s mou, 
Els ti m^ngkat^lipes ? " 
St. Mark's Aramaic for St. Matthew's Greek of our 
Saviour's "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken 
Me?" 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 73 

" O My Father! O My Father! 

Why hast Thou forsaken Me ? ' ' 
Wake, my Soul, from slumber waken, 

To this Cry quick waken thee! 
In day's midnight cries an Anguish, 

That may crave thy kind caress; 
'0 8e6<; fioUj '0 Oe6<} P-ou^ 

Jesu! Jesu! To Thy bosom 

Thou hast often taken me; 
To my heart I clasp Thee, bind Thee; 

Who could have forsaken Thee ? 
In Thy Father's hiding hide Thee, 

In Thine own strong tenderness! 
'0 Oeo^ /J^ou, '0 8e6<i fjLou, 

Ei<s Ti fie kykariXi-Kt^ ; 

Lord, on me let fall this darkness, 

Let Thine angers break on me; 
In Thy mercy for His mercy 

Let not Love forsaken be ! 
Not for His sake, 'tis for my sake 

Cries He in divine distress; 

El<; Tt fie iykarikiTze^^ 



VI 

"Yet ne'er so pleased, ne'er so triumphant 

He 
As in dear thought of this great Sacrifice. 
And ne'er such anthemed praise among the 

ranks 
Of heaven beholding. Shall the infinite 
Be added to ? And yet more golden shone 



74 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

The golden throne ; more glorious glowed all 

round 
The infinite splendor ; more seraphic grew 
Seraphic song ; diviner seemed My own 
Eternal reign ! 

" O Children of My love, 
To you looks He for recompense. • Yours 

now 
The power, the honor, to enrich the Christ 
Who for you made Himself so poor. Almost 
Exchange of Godhead makes He with you! 

He 
To you prostrates Himself in prayer for aid, 
And love, and life ! Behold, those wounded 

hands 
"Will heal, if ye but let them bind your wounds ! 
Those bleeding feet will bleed no more, if ye 
Will bid them on glad errands speed for your 
Deliverance ! That pierced, bleeding brow, 
If ye but press it with your penitent kiss, 
Will feel reviving pressure of a crown 
Divine ! That grieved, sin-stabbed heart will 

feel 
No anguish more, nay, but will throb with 

joy 

Unknown before, if ye will let one drop 
Of its life-giving blood fall on your woe ! 
Let Love have love ; let Life give life once 
more ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 75 

" And so contented I with His most sweet 
Content, most passionate passion, for men to 

die. 
Perchance the world at thought of Christ's 

pure love ; 
Perchance the world at sight of My deep grief ; 
Perchance in keen compassion for our tears ; 
Perchance shocked into bitter penitence 
At thought that into Deity they drave 
The instruments of pain whose inmost life 
And power were immanent, conscious, loving 

God; 
Perchance reflecting how in all earth's sins 
My woes were greater than the woes of men ; 
How I, e'en I, all life pervasive through, 
Am hard coerced by mutinous man's caprice 
Into a confraternity of ill ; — 
Perchance by this the world's rough conscience 

shall 
Be moved, shall pity My sore pity, grow 
In love with love, learn the sweet painlessness 
Of pain in kindness borne, the strong life 

gained 
When strongly given, the worth of wealth 

well-won. 
The world cast off more affluently gained. 
The boomerang quality of charity, 
Inflows of God with outflows of good-will. 
My Christ hath made His best investments 

here! 



76 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

" Nature, pray weep no more, nor thou, nor I. 
This sumptuous love earns sumptuous reward. 
Christ of the travail of His soul shall see, 
And be well satisfied. This earth, so much 
Forgiven, shall love much, when from its 

sin 
Rebounding it shall stand for glorious Christ ; 
Ay, Nature, and for thee ! My final thought 
Thou may'st not know. Said not my Well- 
Beloved : 
* Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, 
No, not the angels who so deep things see. 
Neither the Son, only the Father ' ? Lo, 
So must it be ; the days, the deeds, the plans. 
Of Mine be many that archangels seek 
In vain to comprehend. Zophar said right : 
' Eloah's secret, canst thou find it out ? ^'^ 
Or Shaddai's perfect way canst thou explain ? 
Higher than heaven's height, what canst thou 

do? 
Deeper than Sheol's depths, what canst thou 

know ? 
Its measurement is longer than the earth, 
And broader than the sea ! ' 

"Meanwhile, thy work, 
Dear Nature, trustfully and patiently 
Pursue. Thou hast done well. At earliest 

dawn 
Of thy creation I pronounced thee good ; 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 77 

And such I call thee still, though harsh abused. 
Be brave. In larger hope toil on. Thou yet 
Shalt be of thy great travail satisfied ! 

" And 3'^e, My Children, whom with joy I see, 
From distant star-homes gazing at this Cross 
With wonderment such as not stirred you e'en 
In lordlier lands of far superior spheres ; 
Amazed ye be at Man's dread sin that slew 
My One-Begotten, Well-Beloved Son ; 
Amazed ye be at Nature's grief and Mine ; 
Amazed ye be no direful judgments fall 
Upon this most ungenerous race, this most 
Inhuman (or, since man alone hath sinned 
Below, such way, let's say most human) sin ! 
But some unutterable day ye shall 
My permit have to visit Earth again ; 
Then with a more amazed amazement shall 
Ye gaze on what My Ransom-Love hath 

wrought ; 
Then see Love's power an old world to renew, 
Making cold death to tingle into life. 
Darkness to quiver and quicken into light ; 
Sea-depths uplifted continents of joy. 
Deep pits of hell exalted heights of praise ! 

" Listen, O Nature, and ye, bright Spirits, soon 
T' ascend to your well-earned home ; and ye, 
O Sons of Men, who indistinctly catch 
My words divine ; hear ye what Earth hath yet 



78 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

In store from Me, of Me. Then, My thought 

told, 
If song or prayer shall in your bosoms move. 
Pour forth in holy phrase what suits your 

mood ; 
Let singing music surge from singing soul ; 
Perchance poor earth shall hear and join the 

praise ; 
Or, better than be singer, be a song ; 
Yea, Singer be, and sung-of, and the song, 
A Song strong and full-rounded, sounding 

'mong 
Astonished, rapturous worlds, great worlds of 

worlds ! 
Then worlds in worlds, commingling won- 

drously. 
Shall know the sacred touch and thrill, — as 

though 
They felt His garment's healing hem ; and 

worlds 
So distant the impetuous light almost 
Grows tired of wing on the long pauseless 

flight. 
Shall throb with jubilees that well-nigh match 
The exultant praise eternal round My throne ! 

"Here justified is justice, satisfied 

Are love and law; here righteousness and 

peace 
Have kissed ; the Infinite hath once for all, 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 79 

All times and worlds, made ample sacrifice ; 
Incarna '.e, once for all, the Son divine. 
* Life of my life ! ' cries suffering man to Me ; 
' Life of My life ! ' I grateful call to Him. 
All this one vast Eternal Deed, the Cross ! 
Fountain whence living waters flow for all 
That thirst ! Kiver of Life knowing no final 

sea ! 
True Banyan-tree of Life with branches spread 
O'er all the earth and all the worlds ; its leaves 
The nations healing, its fruits as various 
As months of heaven's unending years ! City 
Of God, wide opened on each stately side 
Its triple gates, whence march love-armed hosts 
To bring the rescued ones within from all 
The bloody battle-fields of sin ! Never 
May man nor angel know the length, the 

breadth, 
The height, the depth, of purposes divine. 

" But this I tell ye ; now this poor hurt 

world 
Lies hard asleep, all heedless of the wealth 
Of this rich sacrifice, and the huge wrong 
That agonized the skies. Dead now it lies 
To all that presses, pierces us, yet thrills 
Us with strange bliss. But other spheres in 

part 
Shall apprehend, and they, the unconscious 

earth 



8o THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Low bending o'er, shall sing their ecstasy 
Into her ear of sleep, from dreams confused 
To wake her to this most godlikest love 
Mere myriad burning worlds might not make 
clear ! 

VII 

" Meanwhile, O Nature, 'tis not ours to mind 
These passing struggles of the Earth ; they be 
With perils fraught, yet with sure victory ; 
So hath My will ordained. Sooner My throne 
Shall tumble down than right by wrong be 

slain. 
Earth's birth-pangs but presage her mother- 

" Hast yet forgot the story of this globe, 
In that far distant Ichthyosaurian time, 
Ere yet Orion gracious smiled on Earth, 
Or Southern Cross the Southern zone pre- 
ferred, <*) 
Or the Great Bear growled at the Northern 

Pole, 
Or the North Star attained the Magnet- 
throne ? 
These troublous times of incompletenesses 
And woes and sins are like those ancient 

years 
When coarse uncouthness gave no gracious 
sign 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 8i 

Of the sweet loveliness we planned to be ; 
When ghastly reptiles thronged the dismal 

seas ; 
And birds were reptiles ; ay, the birds, the 

birds 
"Were reptiles, lighting in the shrinking 

boughs, 
Filling the air with hisses and with fright, 
With scream and screak; unpromiseful eggs 

of birds 
Of beauty and of song ; strange prophecies 
Of happy-throated bobolink ; of lark 
Impatient of the tarrying morn ; of dove 
So softly murmuring her love that he 
Of quaintest, sweetest, lyric fantasy, 
My Herbert, prayed ' her golden wings on him 
Might rest, hatching his tender heart so long 
Till it got wing to fly away with her ; ' 
Strange prophecies of My fair birds of flight, 
That in their beauty, song, bold sweep of 

wing, ' ' 

And joy in ever mounting upward, most 
Of all My creatures teach My Children be 
Like angels pauseless in ascent and praise ! 

" Yet, Nature, not disheartened wast thou 

then. 
Age after age more beauteous grew the earth, 
And fairer flowers flushed o'er the fairer fields, 
And seemlier fishes swam serener seas, 



82 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

And birds of joy and plumage beautiful 
Gladdened the incense-laden air with song ; 
While nobler beasts grazed on the knolls of 

green. 
Dreadful the earthquakes of those pristine 

days; 
Horrid the yawning chasms, hoarse the roar 
Of warring winds and waves, and fierce the 

shock 
When, mountain clasping mountain, both slid 

off 
Into -th' engulfing sea ; too deafening 
For men to live, or living hear M}'^ voice ! 
The giant cliffs raised their proud heads, and 

dared 
The lightning strike so high. Volcanic heights 
Held heavenward their fire-filled chalices 
In savage sacrament ! Dismal the mists 
That would not tolerate the generous sun, 
Nor let him hang across the firmament 
The crimson clouds to greet his dawn, or 

make 
His setting noble. O, though all the stars 
Did beg to gaze upon this infant globe. 
Though the grand heavens all round bent low 

to bless 
Her with their smile, she would not draw 

aside 
Her darkening veil ; — symbol how in these 

days 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 83 

The Sun of Righteousness so oft in vain 
Attempts to warm and light the darkness 

here ! 
How frowned those old years on the new 

bright Earth 
I had in mind ! 

" Yet, Nature, well know we 
How through our patient care and gentle might 
The darkness slow relaxed her clasp, and bade 
The firraamental host draw nigh and bless. 
The jagged rock-heights wild by many a storm 
Were beaten, till adown their steeps to dark 
Abysmal deeps and soundless seas they poured 
Their offerings for rich valleys yet to be. 
Meanwhile the towering peaks, so terrible, 
White glittering spires of a cathedral world 
Became, to which the clouds sweet incense 

brought 
From reverent fields ; or like the pious doves 
Gathered from every quarter of the sky 
To rest and worship ! Strange how smoke 

and steam 
And fogs that once barred out the sun, now 

turned 
To give most welcome greeting ; and alert 
Now wrought the long refused light to forms 
And hues of splendor infinite ! The growth 
Of ancient fens and forests died, whence 

sprang 



84 THE D I FINE PROCESSIONJL 

A richer sylvan wealth ; and the black mould 
Became the treasury of seonic light, 
To serve the arts and industries and homes 
Of these more princely times ; the fires of 

those 
Prehuman days warming and lighting up 
The world for His resplendent Coming, who 
The Light of Life, the Lord of Glory, is ! 
The scolded weeds entangling bush and plain. 
Dying, enriched the soils for centuries 
More tranquil, and for worthier, wealthier 

lives. 

" A myraid forms consented thus to die ; 

The very names by which they called them- 
selves 

Men do not know. Unknown they breathed, 
expired ; 

Their beauty and fair fragrance unperceived 

Except by thee and Me. Some, lingering 
still. 

Adorn and beautify the earth which then 

Unconscious lived upon their wealth. I tell 

Thee, Nature, thou must know I love these 
weeds 

Of long gone times ; flowers then, weeds now, 
harsh spurned 

By men, stamped down, uprooted, killed, 
cursed, burned, — 

I loved, I love them still ! All lonesome then 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 85 

"Was earth. E'en I was lonely here ; no lives 
Then growing up toward heavenhood; but 

these 
Did smile, and offer Me their frankincense ; 
And willing lived to perish. They lived and 

died 
Unknown at first ; were afterward by men 
Despised and slain. My primal martyr-flow- 
ers, 
To make more fit the world for years to 

come, 
Lived, bloomed and died so men might happier 

thrive ; 
So other flowers might be more beautiful. 
And have more praise, and sweeter homes of 

love, 
And cheer the couch of pain and bruised 

hearts 
That, healed, would have no patience with 

base weeds ! 
' Base weeds ! ' Types they of Him whom 

most I love, 
A tender Plant grown out of desert ground, 
Despised of men, from whom they turn the 

face; 
A "Weed ! so deemed, yet verily Tree of Life, 
"Whose eager branches bear whate'er of 

strength 
Or sweetness blesses man or glorifies 
Fair worlds 1 



86 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

" Those misinterpreted, those crude, 
Suggestive years I loved, love now, and shall. 
Much perished then ; much died leaving no 

sign; 
Beauty corroded ; frankincense of flowers 
Grew rancid ; brave life died ; fires wanton 

burned ; 
"Wild waters drowned; fierce earthquakes 

buried deep 
Herculean strength that seemed too huge to 

die. 
Nor deem unworthy purpose served such life ! 
The jointure of My carpentr}'- ever fits. 
Life makes her own environments, and oft 
By them is made. The eyeless habitants 
Of waters cavernous and dark spend not 
Their one long night in conscious dismal- 

ness ; 
But revelling in the coolness, the soft touch 
Of springs, the sense of featly mobileness, 
The exquisite witchery of dash and coup, 
The venture of untried, mock-threatening 

pools, — 
With such delights, by dear companionships 
Made dearer, these bright children of the 

gloom 
Thank Me they are, and are their own glad 

selves ; 
And wonder how queer creatures stand the 

glare 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 87 

Of sun, or breathe in waterless air, or dare 
The skyward flight, or aught whate'er survives 
Unshone on by the dark ! 

" So in far asons 
Earth's rugged beasts their rugged pleasures 

found 
In bog and brake, in ooze and sodden air. 
In mountains live with earthquakes, oceans 

swept 
By wind terror-inspired and lightning-whipped ! 
They fed on storms ! Monsters were they ; 

monstrous 
Were their regalements ; in these quiet times 
They might not live, missing the massive roar 
Of vengeful thunders, flashing flights of flame 
That denser made the dark ! Their purpose 

served 
They well. Most real their joy, though wild 

and weird. 
Even the mountains and deep gulfs and seas 
Did almost conscious thrill. Nor this all. 

Deep 
Foundations then were laid for loftier years. 
Life died that life might multiply. The graves 
Of ancient centuries became cradles 
For these. Their groans are resurrection calls 
These hear, and rise to immortality. 
That which thou so west is not quickened save 
It die. I love, I bless, what dies so else 



88 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

May thrive. Scarce could I bear that what 

was oft 
So fragrant, rich-hued, or e'en barbarous, 
Should not have straighter, choicer use, than 

serve 
As mouldering compost for more delicate 

growth. 

"But with such sweetness of content the weeds 
Did grow ; and with such merry fin and wing 
My primal creatures sprang through wind and 

wave; 
And with such bearing, quite majestical. 
My brave brutes trod the quagmires and the 

crags ; 
All patient with their crude times and rude 

selves ; 
Successive races glad of death and grave. 
So earth might fruitf uller be of fruitfuller lives 
And hopes ; O Nature, I did love, and bless 
Them ! They to Me have been old rugged type 
And symbol of the sacrificial Love 
Fragrant and fair, so gentle, so robust, 
That with the wicked sought a grave, where- 

from 
A world's redeemed Humanity might rise I 

VIII 

" So, Nature, in the war, the woe, the sin, 
The crudenesses and rudenesses we see 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 89 

This day among the Sons of Men, have hope ! 
Much evil grows, to perish as by fire. 
Its ashes mellowing and enriching times 
To be ; far more, a myriad-fold shall I 
Convert and save. Much seeming ill is but 
Ill-understood ! Would'st think to find in eggs 
Fair-plumaged birds, with power of flight and 

song? 
Plows, swords, harps, minstrelsies, evangels, 

wide 
Civilizations, in the ochrous ore ? 
The Night is dark, — it has not time to shine ; 
'Tis busy manufacturing Day ! Sometimes 
The Day is dark, abstractly planning how 
To make the morrow worthier ! In strange 
Confusions, order wise men may divine, — 
Apocalypses in the bitter bud 1 

" The acrid nut of law is germ of woods 
That I shall build My temples of. Good use 
Shall pain, and sin, and the deep mysteries 

serve. 
That surge in devastating waves o'er all 
The sea of life. Just as the potencies 
Of wind, wave, refluent tide, now wasting 

strength 
On rock and wreck, shall grind the grain and 

whirl 
The wheels of trade, shame braggart thunder- 
storms, 



90 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Unlocking world-fulls of electric stores, 
The products multifolding of a glad 
And multifolded race ! What seems most ill 
Shall yet good purpose serve. Like men's 

tide-mills 
'Long shore. The sea goes out, comes in ; the 

same 
Wheels turn ; they grind the same, which way 

soe'er 
The swell ; I cross the bands ; and, ebb or flow 
The tides, they grind My grist of grace. 

" Nature, 
These days are our primeval o'er again ; 
With fog and darkness fighting against light ; 
Ungainly growths, and hard, grim forms of 

life ; 
Great wastes of force and beauty ; tears are 

here ; 
Eyes oft sore weep as did the ancient skies 
That daily drenched the ground. Huge crimes 

stalk forth ; 
Big human pterodactyls, bird, beast, bat 
In one, infesting field and air and sea 
With violence and fright ; long ages filled 
With desolation and with doom. But know, 
O Nature, not in vain My power and grace. 
The dank and miasmatic fogs My Love, 
Whereof earth's glowing sun is scanty type. 
Shall lift asky to make more radiant heavens, 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 91 

Over them pouring all effulgences ; 

As though the molten riches of My mines 

Had goldened and deep-rainbowed them ; 

orange, 
Vermilion, argent, azure, emerald, 
Soft opalescences with angel-blush 1 
A myriad rainbows hide within a tear. 
What shall the splendors be when I shall say : 
' O Clouds of earth, hear God ! Your treas- 
ured Day 
Unlock ! The rich life-light in darkness deep 
Ye hide, bring forth ! From lake and wide- 
spread plain, 
Long rising, shine ye forth in majesties 
Of light ; shine till these arched splendors 

pale. 
And the proud sun before your glories fades ! ' 

" Nature ; exult, rejoice ; all shall be well. 

To Me, to thee, let Evil threaten Good! 

Old wildernesses wood-entangled, rank 

With mire, shall the more fertile prove. 
Mayhap 

Our wilderness shall blossom like the rose ; 

New forms of use and beauty shall spring 
forth ; 

Sharp mountain peaks altars of prayer be- 
come; 

Already in the desert kneels My Son ! 

Jf hearts be cold and lives be rude and wrong, 



92 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

If passing ills oppress and well-nigh crush 
The Good, bethink thee how hard glacial days 
Again move, grating, grinding o'er the globe, 
Planing the mountains down, rich vales to fill, 
Compounding strange deposits of all types 
Evolved through ages into one rich soil 
Exultant in fertility, wherein 
My precious plants of righteousness shall 
thrive ! 

" What a renowned world shall we yet make, 
O Earth, through patient law, thou and My- 
self 
Through grace ! What glad surprises. What 

new births 
Of things base-born. Great enemies, great 

friends. 
Low, boorish envies, and hard hates to love 
Converted ; long, distressful bondages 
To freedom ; fears to bold, adventuring faith ; 
Weapons of war to proud artilleries 
Of peace ; the thunders of thy frowning skies. 
And more dread thunders of grand battle- 
storms. 
To earth-engirdling Hallelujahs ! All 
Shall yet be well. My permit of earth's ill 
Is (thou shalt see) intended back-thrust fell 
Of My strong hand, to deal the weightier blow 
To sin in all the world, in all the World 
Of worlds I 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 93 

" But, Nature, thou with Man must bide 
Thy time ; and thine shall be when his ; and 

both 
When Christ's. On, as I bade thee ; do thine 

own 
Task well ; Man his ; I Mine. Mark what 

hath been ! 

IX 

" First the great Christ incarnate was in thee ; 
Through Holy Ghost, by Him, by Me, sent 

forth. 
Coequal all, eternal. One True Soul ; 
Of All that is, most inmost Soul and Life ! 
First, then, My Christ incarnate was in thee ; 
The invisible things of Him most clearly seen 
Since the Creation, even eternal power 
And Godhead ; He in all deep immament. 
No wonder stars so bright and wakeful night 
By night, and growth so quick, the universe 
So instant and responsive to My will ; 
No wonder, filled with Him, thy life no 

bounds 
Would know of art and enterprise ; 
No end of creature shapes and upward trend ; 
New senses born to match each new-born 

time ; 
An infinite dissatisfiedness 
Thine only rest ; each choicest product prest 
By its own nature to outdo itself ; 



94 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Leaping to wider range and finer forms, 
More varied sensibilities and use ! 
No marvel, filled, fired, animate with Him, 
The throb and quiver of his strong heart-beats 
Are felt by all, atoms and spheres the same. 
O, not far wrong, who on thy bosom sleep, 
And pleased dream they note the pulse of 

God; 
Ah, might men's souls in glad accord but 

beat ! 

" Not undevout, but Christful primal Days ! 
The mountains were proud symbols of His 

might ; 
The seas of depths and widenesses of love ; 
The arching skies of His o'er bending care ; 
The snows of His pure spotlessness that was 
In later times to mantle earth's dark lands. 
All graceful forms did signify his art 
And th' infinite fairness of His sovereign soul. 
He immanent life of all ; bees hum His 

praise ; 
Birds carol it ; flowers, perfumed sunbeams, 

set 
Themselves t' interpret His rare beauty ; 

gems, 
And quaint hoar-frosts, and fleecy flakes of 

snow 
That swirl unfearing down the frowning sk}'', 
Their crystalline forms assume, merry 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 95 

"With thought of Him ; all elements so bent 
On seeing, hearing, pleasing, holding Him, 
As oft to gather into living shapes 
So small, monads might use their microscopes 
To watch them, as with nimble wings they 

fly, 

With eager and unsleeping eyes seek Him 
In whom all live and move and being have ! 
And so to Me the heavens and the earth 
Be infinitely dear, because My Child 
Did frame them ; lo, His finger-marks I see ; 
Ah, they be filled with Christ-work, and with 
Him! 

" But He nor I therewith full satisfied. 
In beauty, strength, and many a gloriousness 
And use, the ancient earth did please Me well. 
My creatures had keen sense and joy of 

things ; 
My reptiles sought the soothing slums for 

sleep ; 
My fishes whirled among the eddying pools 
And from the sunshine made their shields of 

sheen ; 
My birds knew their soft robes were beautiful, 
Singing, or loud or low, love-lays to mates 
"Well pleased with such fine wooing. My 

brave beasts 
Did love the frolics of their haunts, the chase. 
The verdant pastures of the pensive plain. 



96 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

O, e'en My plants their own dear conscious- 
ness 

Did lialf surmise, and mimicked things that 
thought ; 

And from dim dens stole out into the light ; 

Or felt the covering of the night and closed 

The darkness out ; or shrank with terror when 

The thunders rode the tempests down the hills. 

But He nor I therewith full satisfied. 

" Largely of self their thought ; of others 

naught, 
Save as the parent instinct towards its young 
Drew forth that fondness which so anciently 
Foretokened My paternal care for all 
Mine offspring. Other altruistic sense 
Than this they knew not, save that love akin, 
Which in the nursing time made each Sir 

Brute 
Provider and defender of fair Spouse 
Unto the final morsel, the last drop ; 
That life-love whence all generations spring. 
Else this, desire but for their several selves ; 
Nor dream of wider love, or life, or hope ; 
Nor dream of dream concerning Him who 

made 
Them. Sad, no eye deeper to see, nor mind 
The world's composite service to discern. 
Nor power divine the power divine to know ! 
Grateful to Me the morning incense sweet 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 97 

Of fields a-flower ; all creatures I had formed 
In themselves happy, in their spheres content; 
But not enough that to Mine eyes, and those 
Of angels, and of such as 'mongst all worlds 
Do travel, all this admirable sphere 
Should manifest be. E'en I love not to gaze 
Into blind, witless, unresponsive eyes ; 
But such as look glad back into Mine own ; 
To happy whom My works clear mirror God. 
O, if Creation may but see, feel, taste, 
Hear, know, love. Me ! Thus shines dim earth 
divine ! 

"Then said "We: 'Let us Man make in our 

image. 
After our likeness ! Wide dominion shall 
He have o'er all that dwell on earth.' Then "We 
In our own likeness him created. Thus 
Incarnate Christ anew, breathing His breath 
Of life immortal into that fine form. 
Upright, the noblest, Nature, I gave thee ; 
Form of that beauty and majestic grace 
I from long time had loved to meditate. 
In outline-type whereof all life I made ; 
Above all higher than noon-sun o'er main. 
Above the brute, as I higher than he ! 

"Two spheres aflame right face to face see 

not 
Each other ; no inquiry make whence came 



98 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

They ; how their brothers left, or whither 

bound ; 
They bump full-drive together, spattering 

stars ^^^ 
Blood-red all o'er the heavenly floor, or clasp 
In hot embrace such as oft heats dead worlds 
To life ! J^or know they be afire ; nor have 

one fear 
What conflagrations dire they spread through 

heaven ; 
"Worlds with less brain than some lone ant-hill 

holds ; 
"Worlds whose immeasurable seons e'en 
My weakest saintly child shall long outlive ! 

" Men ! "Worlds ! 'Twas a mere child, an 

old man's wares 
Of lenses handling, placed two bits to the 

eye,— 
And cried : ' O Grandfather ! I see the hour 
0' the clock on yonder steeple ! ' Of which fact 
One learning soon (one who in Pisa's Duomo 
From the dim candles of her swinging lamp 
Had got sunlight for the science of his day. 
And taught earth's gravities beat time for 

men ; 
And from the mystic Tower — as though for 

this 
The years had made it heavily lean — dropped 

stones 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 99 

That 'gainst the learned Stagy rite's teaching, 

proved 
One mighty law of thine, Nature), this man 
From trifling, vulgar and eye-blinding dust. 
Such as himself was formed of, made a lens 
Of clearness crystalline through which from 

deep 
Dark voids strange visions of star-splendor 

shone ! 
Dust looked through dust ; and at earth's mid- 
night saw 
Brave Morning stride across the Moon's dark 

disk, 
Planting his silver feet on her high Alps ! 
Behold, about yon belted planet played 
At hide and seek his surprised satellites ! 
He looked the kingly Sun straight in the face, 
And said he saw black blots upon his cheek ; 
Withal his virtues not unspotted he ! 
In the star-peopled sky each shining one 
He bade approach, and none might in the 

dark 
Or distance hide, or hie so headlongly 
As for an instant flee beyond his ken. 
No marvel all My worlds fly everywhither 
Precipitate, o'ertoppling as they speed 
In multitudinous race from human eyes, 
Eyes with acute omniscient sense endued. 
Dust looks through dust at dust ; and thereby 

proves 
L.of G. 



ioo THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

'Tis not dust, but true Soul ! Lo, Earth's 
poor dust — 

A few stones' weight thereof — inbreathed, in- 
dwelt, 

By My Life-Spirit, outweighs, outshines, out- 
climbs. 

Outwits, outlasts, the star-dust of the heavens, 

Though each star-atom be a blazing sun ! 

" Strange history his, which. Nature, thou 

need'st not 
I tell ; since from Time's distant dawn. 
When thou on thy young mother-breasts 

fondly 
Did'st suckle him, and on this pendulous 

planet. 
The primal cradle, thou did'st softly rock 
His babyhood, his errant wa3'^s thou hast 
"Well-known ; his strong self-will, his haughty 

pride 
His sad mistraining of rich inborn tastes 
To gluttonies, his unwise forfeitures 
Of what was best from heaven, in earth, him- 
self. 
O, if the ruins be so gorgeous, what 
The glory of the temple into which 
Was builded all the best of feeling, art. 
Experience, wisdom, wealth and worth of 

aeons 1 
The proud creation's peerless masterpiece, 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL loi 

Endowed with full free choice to die or live, 
To brighten heaven or more dark make hell, 
To be My son, or dare to be My foe ; 
And being such, a foe worth having as friend ! 
Ah, had he though but wiselier, greatlier 

dared 
Against the tempter's taunts and jibes to stand 
Upon his manhood and his Godhead too ! 
Ah, then he had out-angeled angelhood ! 



" Then the great Christ appeared, in human 

form 
Yet image express of Godhead, Heir of All, 
Greater than heir of things and worlds and 

times, 
Heir of not Mine alone but inmost Me. 
In the beginning was the Word, the Word 
Was with God, and the Word was God. The 

same 
In the beginning was with God. All things 
Were made by Him. In Him was Life, and 

the Life 
Was the Light of men. The Love, Life, Light 

be One ; 
True Trinity of Father, Spirit, Son. 
And the Light loved Darkness and thus made 

it bright. 
And the Life loved Death and gave it second 

birth, 



102 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

And the Love loved Man redeeming him to 

God; 
And Love, Light, Life did take and mould 

them all 
Into the humble, sovereign, human, godlike 

Christ ! 
Then, not enough He should be heir of Mine, 
He shall be heir of poor man's sins and woes, 
And thereby heir of the "World's love at last ! 

" In Him all life is penetrate anew 
With Me ; life of new life ; ennobling all ; 
My Branch engraft on sad Humanity, 
So it the holy fruits of heaven may bear ; 
Born in the flesh so wretched man may be 
Born in the Spirit. He would feel the thrill 
Of human pain, so men in turn might know 
The thrill of love divine ! Incarnate He 
In that grand Galilean form, so touch 
More close to every joy and pain and sin 
Of earth ; in all points tempted as men be, 
Yet without sin. Thus Mediator meet, 
Interpreting to Godhead man, to man 
Interpreting My pardoning love and grace ! 

" Well spake My star-child here that of such 

Life 
Most sacred, the profound and broad intent 
None may conceive. How many radii 
May from a centre branch ; or tangents stretch 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 103 

From one small circle? Say how many 
planes 

Lie on a sphere ? How many queries one may 
raise 

About an atom, and an atom ask 

About a star? Let each mind speak his 
thought ; 

Each may have truth ; yet each hath fault who 
claims 

His own the only true. Saith one : ' The light 

Is white.' Correct. Another : ' Ked.' Cor- 
rect. 

Another : ' It is yellow.' Also true. 

But who says : ' Only this,' or ' that ; ' speaks 
false. 

Deny not all in One, and One in all ! 

My wide and wise Creation angrily 

Denies such senselessness. My birds of song 

Their brilliant plumage show. My insects turn 

Their wings of sheen in bright protest. My 
flowers 

Season by season over all the earth 

Spring forth from field and fen and wood, — 
the great 

Glad globe festooning, — one wreath of frank- 
incensed 

Magnificence to lay upon the fair 

White bosom of the Day. My sea-born shells 

Shine with their silvery gleam from depths of 
blue; 



104 "THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

The sapphire sea with pearls and opals 

gemmed ; 
Ocean o'erarched with heavenly sceneries, — 
Now mountains of black crag and purpling 

peak, 
Now frowning fortresses of flame and roar, 
Now palaces with oriflambs of glory. 
Clouds with dissolved rainbows radiant. 
One mighty dome of iridescent praise ! 
To make the light a million varying tints 
Conspire, sweet-blending, each in each, just as 
Not one but all the virtues make the man. 

" Few be the members of men's alphabets ; 
A simple proverb may contain them all ; 
All may be uttered in a turn of wit. 
Yet by these few, scarce more than a bare 

score. 
Have men in many languages and climes 
Expressed their joys and griefs, their loves 

and hates ; 
Have argued their abstruse philosophies. 
Defended human rights and laid wrongs low ; 
Defined all knowledges, sung soft amours, 
Have whispered love and shouted challenges 
To bloody frays ; recited famous creeds 
They dared to die for; mournful requiems 
Have versed and chanted o'er beloved dead ; 
In thronged marts have bargained off their 

wares ; 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 105 

Have set brave honesties at fight with fraud ; 
In churches have proclaimed My sacred truth, 
My praises chanted, and My praise have 

sought ! 
The feat of reckoning all that this bare score 
Of sound- words may express what hardihood 
Shall venture ? All the atmosphere of earth. 
To where the ether-ocean lands the rare 
And precious commerce of the procreant stars, 
Is dense with deathless speech and bounding 

sound ; 
No atom but has quick responded when 
E'en meekest souls let fall their quiet thought ; 
And through the reverend and majestic years 
To come this simple alphabet shall tell 
The immortal triumphs of the arms of Him 
Who bears this one eternal Name, The Word ! 

" Attend again. Just seven notes complete 
The music scale. So taught the Ancients. So 
Moderns confirm. Not more than octaves 

three 
Can aptest artist reach. Four make full 

gamut 
Of the strong voice of man. These circum- 
scribe 
His song. Seven octaves more, beyond these, 

ear (^^ 
Of man detects no musical sound ; 'tis shriek, 
'Tis thud ; outside these limits — music none. 



io6 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

"Wherefore then need of melody ? Such close 

confines, 
Why trouble men with ears ? Why burden 

air 
With symphonies, and bells with chimes ? the 

woods 
With myriad songsters ? bees with buzz 
And hum ? the delicate reed with minstrelsies ? 
Insects with ditties ? leaves with psalmistries ? 
Mountains with diapason stern of storm ? 

" O Nature, Men, Beasts, Spirits, listen ! 

Three 
And seven, these ten be the full octaves men 
May sing or hear ; yet from these seven, these 

three, 
What grace, what cheer, what inspirations 

holy, 
What prophet-preludes of th' eternal psalm, 
What range of cadences, what serenades of 

love; 
What arias, and harmonies of home ; 
JSolians sighing, singing 'mong the pines ; 
The silv^er sonnets of the simmering sea ; 
Brave bugle-blasts of freedom, truth and law ! 
To what rich litanies, what rapture-hymns, 
What anthems grand, consentient antiphones, 
Majestical doxologies of joy, 
The throbbing organ prompts the pulsing 

praise ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 107 

" With My full weight of Godhead I com- 
mand 
Men cease from their unholy jugglery 
Of words, their heresy of hate ! For sake 
Of souls their wretched dogmatism damns, 
I charge they let alone My troubled ones. 
The frightened, trembling children I would 

save ! 
When able they to understand and tell 
* The way, — where is it, to light's dwelling- 
place ? <•■*) 
And darkness, where the place of its abode ? 
The treasures of the snow how to approach ? 
Where is the way by which the lightning 

parts ? 
How drives the rushing tempest o'er the land ? 
How bind together th' clustering Pleiades, 
Unloose Orion's bands, Mazzaroth lead, 
Or guide the ways of Arctos with her sons ? ' 
E'en then the deeper problems of My rule, 
The blending of My life with Man's in Christy 
The mystic meanings of the sacred Cross, 
Remain unsolved, perplexing problems still. 
To reverent souls let Cross and Bible preach 
What best they may ; to wise philosophers 
Let earth and sea and sky My will make 

known ; 
To poet all the Avorld a poem be. 
Anthology of rhymed and rhythmed praise ; 
Each reverent soul My Truth interpreting 



io8 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

As each hath deepest vision, need and thrill ; 
Yet shall not one nor all reach utmost truth. 
Let each feed well on what he well hath 

learned, 
Nor poison soul of his, or friend's, by coarse 
Misjudgment, or precisionisni of cant ! 

" Lo, Speech, Light, Music, all a Trinity ; 
Distinct, but One ! Music is happy speech 
And cheery light to troubled souls and dark. 
Kind words make the dim way more clear and 

fill 
Sad lives with song. Light well reveals what 

speech 
But ill describes, and aids the blind almost 
To see the joyous pulsing harmonies ! 
Speech, music, light, have elements most scant, 
Yet combinations infinite. With sounds 
So few, who e'er would think to articulate 
Fair faith and weird despair, and blissful rest, 
Sour discontent, mirth, love, and wretched 

hate ; 
The passion-throes of uncontrolled sin ; 
The holy hopes of great and godlike souls ; 
The pangs of generations, each in turn 
Hard-travailing mother of the next, with all 
A parent's battling for the offspring's weal ; 
Man's dreams of Me, and My most infinite 
Observance of his need ; My pleased plans 
Whereby he may become My child again ? 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 109 

" Who with but handful of base, tenor, air, 
"Would think to throng homes, temples, forests, 

seas. 
Summer's soft calms and sacramental showers. 
The mountained earth, and the far flying stars 
With countless melodies ; world unto world 
Its waking matin and sweet even song 
Kepeating endlessly ? Who from less dyes 
Than th' digits of his hand might e'er com- 
pound 
The hues wherewith I paint the mapled hills. 
The infant dew and lark-saluted morn, 
Fresco the sky with magisterial thrones 
Of judgment, and broad wings of angels white 
That come and go attendant on My will, 
While lightnings threat to set the globe afire ? 

" O, who from subtle substance one, only 
With variant vibration, would assume 
To build some humblest jessamine, or bee 
That settles to its trembling, tempting cup. 
Or e'en the crawling worm (which, usefullest 
Deep plowman of My plains, let man spurn 

not). 
Or e'en a trifle of some generous mould ; 
Much less, assume to frame the solid spheres, 
The spheres that glow, the spheres that sing. 
That wing their winding way forevermore 
My throne around, laden with life that thrives 
And throbs with joy ineffable from Me ? 



no THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

" Ay, who would deem one poor small brain 

might be 
Brave centre of My world whereto all earth 
Reports her doings momently ; whereto 
The solemn sun's quick-quivering messengers 
Speed down dim distances ; whereto My 

thoughts 
Incarnated in lives innumerous 
Reveal themselves in beauty and in light ; 
One humble auditor, for whom are struck 
World-fulls of rhapsodies and glory ; one 
Keen retina that misses sight of naught 
In depths of sky or sea that challenges 
Its gaze, that catches lightning on the wing ; 
My microcosmal secrets proudly probes ; 
Revels among the braided beams of light 
That ribbon the receding storms benign ; 
Upon My far stars gazes till they blink ; 
Upon My nearer sun, that in an hour 
Would burn his earth up, looks without dis- 
may ? 

" Alas, to Man I only the Unseen ; 
Alas, too oft, the only Unadmired ! 
Only Creator by the creature shunned ; 
Only the Lover by the loved unloved ! 
Alas, My face alone He may not now 
Behold, and live. But fast the Day draws nigh 
When, seeing Me, into My likeness he 
Shall grow ; from glory into glory changed ! " 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL iii 

Now in a mirror darkly may we trace 

The features fair 
Of Him, who for our sakes did dark death dare; — 

Then, face to face! 

Bravely, therefore, we hear He comes apace, 

Or how, or when 
He will! We'll clearly see and bless Him then, 

When face to face. 

Meanwhile, with patience run this earthly race; 

'Twill end so soon; 
Speed on! May reach high heaven ere high-noon! 

Then face to face! 

Stand, face to face with truth and honor; space 

Is not below 
For falseness. God is Truth! As now, e'en so 

Then, face to face! 

Let's learn the lesson here; steadfast embrace 

Each lowliest task 
As highest. Will God's will! Then new work ask 

When face to face. 

Earth give us work! God grant us blessM grace 

To do for Him 
Whom now we love, though seen in vision dim; 

Then, face to face! 

O, tears be sweet, and toil, in any place 

If He be near! 
I see Him not; He me, though! We'll appear 

Then, Face to Face! 

" Who then may sound the secrets of His Soul 
In whom My Godhead infinitely hides? 
Who His full heart may know ? Than light 
more bright, 



112 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

Than summer suns serene far fruitfuller, 

His radiance o'erspreads the mystic earths and 

skies 
Of human soul-life, growing great harvest- 
ings 
Where first My plows have broken fallow 

fields. 
Thereon, when sweeping tear-storms have 

rolled by, 
His angels, bent on binding earth to heaven 
With long strong chains of interlinked light, 
Arch the glad sky with lustrousness that pales 
The spectrum of the ancient covenant Bow 1 
But He, — His grace outshines and arches all ! 
Chiefest among ten thousand My Beloved ; 
And altogether lovely ! Alphabets 
Of angels cannot spell His might ; nor songs 
Of seraphs amply celebrate His praise ; 
Nor winged light speed like His hasting love. 
Deep oceans were small cups to hold His 

thought ! 
Were every star a letter bright with joy 
To help spell out His wide eternal plan. 
And ageless aeons given his mind to tell ; 
Were the broad planes of heaven on which 

from dawn 
To time's last sunset the wide wandering orbs 
Their orbits make, imprinted thickly o'er 
With story of His gracious sovereignty, 
The possibilities of languages 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 113 

Exhaust ; O know, e'en then the word-packed 

world 
Could not contain the books that should be 

writ! 

" Messiah's secret who then may find out ? 
He said : ' None save the Father, knoweth 

Me; 
And none the Father, save the Son, and such 
As the divine revealing doth inform.' 
"Wherefore He conjured : ' Take My yoke on 

you; 
Thus learn of Me ; trust My meek, lowly heart. 
Love's easy yoke makes heavy loads draw 

light ! ' " • 

Alas, dear Lord, what meanest Thou 
That I new yoke and load see now 
To which I must obedient bow, 
So tired, so faint ? 

Poor worn and weary heart, wilt know 
'Tis thy sad self that galls thee so ? 
My yoke is very easy; lo, 
My burden's light! 

O Yoke, expressly made by God, 
• Not to gall more the neck low-bowed, 
But just to help me draw my Load, 
Thank God for thee! 

Fair Yoke, with bow and key of love, 
Sweet Yoke, that dost Christ's sweetness prove! 
Thou dear Yoke-Fellow, ne'er remove 
From me Thy Yoke! 



114 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

Burden — of uurusting gold, 
Burden — of mercy on mercy rolled, 
Burden — of grace and love untold, 

Blest Burden light! 

Lord, Lord, forgive; Thou cheatest me; 

1 take Thy Yoke, and find me free, 
Thy Load — Thou carriest it, and me! 

Quaint Yoke! Quaint Load! 

O loaded Love! O loved Load! 
By golden Yoke drawn down God's Road! 
Quaint Christ! Build high the Load and broad; 
And Thine, or mine ! 

" Love's easy Yoke makes heavy Loads draw 

light. 
O, know that Christ alone disco vereth Christ. 
Only by love is Love well understood. 
The Life that loves, the Love that lives, knows 

God! 
Spirit to spirit answereth, flesh to flesh; 
Music to music singeth ; light to light. 
Deep Soul of God to soul of man responds, 
Deep soul of man divine to Soul of God. 
My true humaneness, man's divineness, dwelt 
In Him. Be largest, godfullest man thou 

can'st ! 
Fill thyself full of Christ, O Man, and He 
In thee shall tell thee of Himself! Nor 

worlds 
Of wealth or wisdom, nor mere men-taught 

schools, 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 115 

Nor men-writ books, nor e'en My Book by Me 
Inspired, by Me securely handed down 
Tlirough ages of contentious jealousies, 
Alone, shall teach and touch thy deepest 

heart ; 
Christ is His own Interpreter ; fill thee 
With Him ; then shalt thou know thy Christ, 

and Mine ! 

XI 

" Thus answered is His Cry : ' For their sakes 

pray 
I, Father, as Thou art in Me, and I 
In Thee, may they in us be ; I in them 
And Thou in Me ! ' Here Incarnation wide, 
Majestical ; Humanity Christ-filled ; 
Here My transcendent Immanence ! Behold, 
This Man of Nazareth doth signify 
True God incarnate in true world redeemed. 
Through touch with Him is Life all penetrate 
Afresh with God. From Him, planted in 

earth. 
Most precious Seed, springs noble harvest 

forth. 
Of goodness, godliness, blooming, fruitening. 
And multiplying on, until the earth 
Is peopled with right manly sons of God, 
As age shall age succeed, immortalness 
Shall from the mortal evermore evolve. 
God manifest in flesh ! Humanity 



ii6 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

Imraanuelled ! O .Day ineffable, 
Of joy, of glory, manhood, godhood, when 
Men thus possessing Me, themselves possess ; 
In their own glad, strong hearts their Para- 
dise 
Kefind ; and Earth her ancient Eden, now 
Beyond the Ethiopian Garden grown ; 
Pison, Euphrates, Havilah, Gihon, 
Its bounds no more ; the peoples all at last 
The kingdoms of the Lord and of His Christ ! 

" Ay, all Earth's empires His ! Nature, some 

day 
Thy prayer shall heeded be. Well have I 

known 
Thine earnest expectations for the sons of 

God; 
Thy groans and pains of travail until now. 
Deliverance awaits thee soon. Then joy 
Be thine with Mine ! Thou shalt My Eden be 
In truth, wherein shall be My walk with men. 
Again shall thy wild beasts be tame ; the 

wolf 
And lamb, the leopard and the kid, the calf 
And lion, shall together dwell ; a Child 
Shall lead them ! 

" Quick hast thou My thought. Some Day 
Men's beast-like passions shall be stilled ; their 
greed, 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 117 

Their anger, envy, lust, and selfishness 
Loved down, pitied and pardoned into peace, 
lu peace shall dwell; them My dear Child 
shall lead ! 

"Then, as in pristine times thou mad'st thy 

seas 
And continents to fit the rude, wild life 
I planted here, thou a New Earth and Heavens 
Shalt form for a matured Humanity ! 
The conscious seas and deserts aid My grace. 
The NQry oceans un reluctantly 
Unfetter their imprisoned waters which 
Through centuries, by surging waves 
And tides inspired by spirits of the winds and 

moon. 
Have fought for freedom, and do now approve 
The copious rains with conscious tenderness 
Baptizing Mine elect regenerate world. 
My Western prairies, hard and sour, forbade 
The rains pacific seas would send, and charged 
The mountains bayonet them on their sharp 

crags 
Of cold ; but mellowed, christianed now, by 

plows. 
Homes, harvestings, welcome the fruitening 

showers. 
So fields, more verdant made, invite the more ; 
Until, perfumed with bloom, with many a grain 
Prolific, peopled by My saints, Earth smiles 
And thrives, a fragrant garden of the Lord ! 



ii8 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

" Impulsively the very oceans hear 
The prayers of lands beneath the tide : 
* Out of the depths to Thee, O Lord, we cry ! ' 
And ardently give way as mountain peaks 
Pierce upward and broad table-lands appear, 
With myriad life and death of myriad years 
Enriched, heirs of the ages ! Thus, as once 
In Patmos the beloved of My Beloved saw. 
The primal earth and heavens were passed 

away. 
And there was no more sea. Where oceans 

surged 
Now spread My fertile plains. The angry 

flood 
I sent, because the wickedness of earth 
Was great, hath busy been through all these 

years 
The dark deeps storing with My plentitudes 
Of wealth, so on their resurrection they 
May be the homes of happy sons of God ! 
The ampler plains sustain the ampler life, 
And holier life tenfold the fruitfuller makes 
The ransomed lands. Earth shall become her- 
self again, 
And more. 

" My Kingdom over all the globe 

Shall spread. They who My ancient Eden 

place 
At the far Pole, where Winter sternly holds 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 119 

His icy sceptre, bidding all who dare 
Invade his realms depart, or die, err not 
So greatly. Lo, the flashing Boreal 
Is but the ancient Flaming Sword which yet 
Forbids entrance within My Garden-Gate, 
Henceforth high-lifted to protect all such 
As in this larger Paradise would dwell. 

" Thee, Nature, thee I bless again, and more ! 
Thy heart henceforth be hopefuller ; thy hands 
"With wealth more opulent for every need ; 
Be to thyself restored ; thy wounds all healed ; 
Thy life and Christ's and Man's conjoined 

well ; 
One Breath pervading all ; one Law, one Love, 
One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, for ye all ! 

" Ah, Nature, how I love converse with thee ; 
Thou art My daughter, after My Son begot. 
Mine angels chanted likewise at thy birth ; 
Likewise My Spirit brooded over thee. 
By whom begotten He. In thee no fault ! 

" Ah, Nature, some would make thee baleful 
now. 

And weak, disturned from thy first bent, wit- 
ness 

'Gainst all I made thee for. Some strangely 
wrong 

Thee, placing thee above Whom thou in all 



120 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Thy sweetnesses and mights and majesties 
Dost worship, making My very works deny, 
Discrown, disprove Me. Others count but ill 
Thy various good ; in love of Me hate thee, 
Thee, patient Mother of these fruitful years ; 
Condemn as carnal those fine senses which 
Through thee I plant in them, so better they 
May relish the glory of thy skies, the breath 
And power of ocean, all the benisons 
Of peace and healthful toils, domestic joys, 
The love of love, mother of mother-love, 
Father of father-love, the life of life ! 
All this, as though a slander cast on thee 
Were loyal praise of Me ; as though when I 
Say : * Love thou not th' things of the world ! ' 

I give 
Command that man right roundly hate the 

world 
Of joyous sense I pleased placed him in. 
The mightier sentient nature in him placed ; 
Himself scorn, loathe, malign, suppress, crush, 

kill. 
So he may fondlier and wiselier 
Love Me ! Ah, some near clearer Day shalt thou 
Be known, and I. Then shall men see how sin 
Hath wrought disjointment, hath thy harmony 
Disturbed ; hath planted envy 'tween thy soul 
And bodily form, between unseen and seen, 
'Tween earth and heaven ; as though light here 

w^ere dark 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 121 

Up there ; as though 'twere My prerogative 
To tempt men through their natures to their 
fall ! " 

Lord, Jesus Christ, whose pardons sweet I plead {^) 
For each poor quivering, iuward, outward deed, 
Help me to treat with thoughtful tenderness 
AH I commit unto Thy fond caress. 

What Thou forgivest let me cease to hate, 

What Thou forgettest may I cancel straight; 

What, torn and bleeding. Thy wise grace would heal — 

For this may I a kindred pity feel! 

Why should I break the broken limb anew 
Whose gentle mending Thou art tending to ? 
Why lash with scorn myself — Thy wandering child, 
Whom Thou art tempting back by arts so mild ? 

I mourn, dear Christ, the sins that wounded Thee; 
Thou mourn est more they have so wounded me; 
No more I'll hurt this blundering, bleeding soul 
Thy wounded hands so softly would make whole! 

Correct, O Lord, the all-mistaken zeal 
That sorer makes the sores Thy love would heal ; 
Deeming we best sweet Mercy's will obey. 
When we not self but suffering selves would slay. 

Alas! on soul and body many a scar. 
All self-inflicted in this needless war. 
Where we misdeem amidst our strange alarms 
God's bugle-blast of Peace a call to arms! 

— Ay, ay, to arms, to arms, Thou callest me! 
To arms! Thine own strong arms of sympathy! 
Lord God! when thus Thou armest, Thou dost best dis- 
arm me 
Of all such weapons as most charm — and harm me! 



122 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

" O, how hath learned ignorance forced Me 
Outside Mine own dear world ! Unnatural 
It seems to some — e'en wise, that prayer may 

serve, 
That souls may revelations share, or souls 
Be souls, that back to primal purity 
May be rebirths ; that I, deep pained for sin. 
May come to help of such as penitent 
On Me shall call. Less freedom Mine than 

men 
Have, even slaves ; less power have I to 

save — 
Than men to slay ! But, Man's redemption 

more 
And more complete ; his reason, conscience, 

will. 
Affections, brought to glad accord with Mine ; 
Then, Nature, all these sad inharmonies. 
These strange misfits of being, shall right 

themselves. 
Of Natural and Supernatural 
They shall not with an unwise wisdom prate. 
Swearing to this, swearing at that. They shall 
Confession make of this one simple Creed : 
'In God, the Father Almighty, I believe. 
Maker of heaven and earth, and Jesus Christ 
His Son, and Immanent Holy Ghost — One 

God ; 
Therefore one World, one broad Humanity, 
One Life, Love, Nature, in the One I am ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 123 

" My Infidels (for some I claim who claim 
Not Me in name ; I being oft set forth 
In such grotesqueness e'en Mine angels smile 
At such My strange deformities ; — or would, 
Save they so lead some strongest souls astray ; 
True Me they love and honorably serv^e ; 
My Infidels) though oft misled elsewise, 
Be right in this : in holding steadfastly 
There be not two antagonistic worlds ^^^ 
With laws and purposes and Lords at war. 
Grievous their error, limiting My domain 
To what eyes see, hands touch, nerves feel ; 

as though 
The Soul hath not her sense also where- 
with 
She knows the deeper verities. Compared 
With that most true, transcendent sphere, 
This mundane life's the imponderable one ; 
Where shadows move, Avhere shadows shadows 

see, 
On shadows feed, get shadow-hurt or good, 
Where shadows quarrel with shadows whether 

there be 
Real trees, clouds, mountains, genuine souls, 

and God ! 
Elsewise they err ; but herein be they right, 
Saying the Here and There truly agree ; 
The Supernatural is God ; elsewise, the Nat- 
ural 
And Supernatural, so called, be one ! 



124 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

"How other? Many Spheres! Spheres 

within spheres ; 
And spheres beyond ! One world men see 

and hear ; 
Nor only kindred worlds be unobserved ; 
But Worlds of other worlds, which neither 

men 
Nor angels dream of ; 'tween which is no 

touch, 
Though into one another thrust, as waves 
Of light and gravity and vital fire 
Do interplay in the wide ether realms, 
Nor e'er impinge e'en though from rival 

spheres ; 
Their only rivalry to bless all worlds 
With grace and consciousness of God. But as 
To th' life of Time and After-Time ; on 

earth, 
In heaven ; man's physical form and his fine 

soul ; 
His life is one, and seen and unseen powers 
Combine, and one law rules, and Heaven is 

near, 
And here her laws obedience require. 
Here unseen ladders lift from every knoll 
And bumble, fruitful vale, up which angels 
Convey earth's prayers, and downward to poor 

men 
My hasting benedictions. Thus behold. 
The Natural Supernatural in Life. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 125 

Only 'tis sin that for a time disjoins ; 

'Tis man's self-will conflicts ; his errant heart 

Brings rude debate and blundering rivalries. 

XII 

" Behold the Infinite's daring ! forming one 
With a free-will that braves dispute with 

God; 
One that coerces the Divinity 
"Within him to a new creation ; ay, 
An empire of his own, from which he aspires 
The original Creator to thrust out ! 

" Why chafe at this, when one may ask as 

well, 
Why made I world-stuff ever ? How came I 
So deep dissatisfied with Self, I needs 
Though infinite must finite Being make ? 
How came I to be I ? How waked to start 
This task of building worlds ? What next 

My fad 
When this toy -making and toy-playing's done ? 
How long before I tire of being God ? " 

Lord God! Art Thou not weary of Thy years 

So anciently begun ? 
O, had'st Thou but some noble, worthy peers 

With Thee in unison; 
Then might'st Thou patience have with humble spheres 

So low beneath the sun ! 



126 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Lord, hast Thou not sometime bemoaued Thy choice 

That iu Thy form us made, 
Only to turn in self-will from Thy Voice 

So we might masquerade 
In liberty ? Can'st still in us rejoice 

Who thus Thy love repaid ? 

Thou hast Thy Peers, Thy Son, Thy Holy Ghost, 

Beginningless with Thee, 
Thou hast Thy multitudinous angel host 

That serve Thee endlessly! 
Us. through our freedom slaves. Thy grace shall most 

Illustriously set free! 

The shackles that our wandering feet weigh down, 

The irons our hands that tie, 
Become through love glad golden chain and crown 

That vouch our liberty! 
Ah, might our shame but heighten His renown 

Who chose for us to die! 

O Life of life! In this dead fruitless field 

Of human earthliness 
Thou plantedst deep Thyself for generous yield 

Of godlike manliness! 
Thy grave grows resurrections. Death is healed, 

Love dies into success! 

" Nay, nay ! Not tired, nor out of heart or 

faith 
"With man to whom I freely gave free-will, 
And its just dower of immortalness ! 
His glory, that with faculty of sin 
He stand in grand integrity and truth ; 
If faithless, then My pride e'en at expense 
Of pain divine to win the wanderer back ; 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 127 

His very fall to teach him thenceforth stand 
In sweetened penitence and grateful trust, 
In larger, loyaller liberty of love ! 
What chance renowned hath thus Mine Only 

Son, 
Mine Heir to vast dominion, to attest 
Fine fitness for the throne, — grace, valor, 

faith, 
Self-mastery, wise conquest of His foes — 
Which murders not, but makes them glad 

allies ! 

" Meanwhile this earth is noble. It deserves 

All the strong ardors wherewith sun and stars 

Hold it in passionate embrace, so ne'er 

It falters in its pace, nor turns aside 

To orbits strange. I bless them that they 

kiss 
Its pleased zones to warmth and fruitfulness. 
Yet with far ampler blessing bless I earth 
And sky and the benignant stars beyond, 
Gently My children nursing, rearing them 
To happy health and strength ; all in pro- 
found 
Accord with inmost spiritual life; 
So health of this gives purer tone to that, 
From each into and through the other free 
Inflow of My good Spirit who in all 
Deep dwells. On body and spirit, one in 
man. 



128 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

As groom and bride now sacramented one, 

My favorite Benediction I pronounced : 

The Lord bless thee and keep thee ; the Lord 

cause 
His face to shine, and gracious be to thee ; 
The Lord lift up His countenance on thee 
And give thee Peace ! What I have joined let 

none 
Dare put asunder ! Such divorce begets 
But anger and unhappy fruitlessness. 
So far as one pure spirit both pervades, 
Their union most complete. The very earth 
Seems born again ; the seen and unseen fit ; 
Angels and sainted heavens visit here ! 

"This squares with My first thought; it 

matches prayer ; 
And inspirations, angels, miracles, 
And God ; no clashing ; one consentient 

whole. 
This thank have I with all My heart to give 
The sceptics. To their sorrow, to Mine own 
Much more, the very verities they lose 
Clear vision of ! But rightly, nobly they 
Insist on the divineness, innocence, 
Necessity, and glory of the world, 
And the proud worth of man's corporeal 

frame ; 
Through earthly glasses they see heavenly 

spheres. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 129 

Will some, then, deem Me wrong ? Shall In- 
fidels 
Teach faith, deniers teach most inmost truth ? 

" Have some forgot that outside saint to whom 
My Abraham paid tithes ? Sore grieves it Me, 
My own dear sons know not themselves, nor 

Me; 
Calling themselves and others by false names. 
What if I have My atheists ? What if they 
Be right or wrong, according to what god 
They disavow, and what godlikeness hate? 
I, too, were Atheist, if coerced to own 
The hideous travesties that in My Name 
Have cursed the shuddering world ! Do men 

believe 
In Me, and in My Christ ? The Church, the 

Clique, 
The empty Credo some affect, put this 
In doubt. Better be sceptic than make good 
Men such! Believing sceptics have more 

faith 
Than unbelieving saints. The question is. 
How far the spiritual vision holds ; 
How much of God one sees, feels, loves, in 

Him 
In whom the fullness of My Godhead dwells ? 
As wrote an ancient poet of that East 
Whose glorious Dawn now breaks from Occi- 
dent: 



130 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

* There be who pass along the highway, pick 
A common stone, split it, and find a gem ! 
This is because they know gems. There be 

they 
Who enter caverns lined with brilliant wealth. 
But empty-handed issue, knowing not gems ! ' <'") 

" My Scriptures say, to love and know be one. 
To souls inspired for whom all life is song 
Sweet music breathes from all the silent 

flowers. 
To them the whirling wheels that swift beat 

time 
Along the rails of steel, sing lullabies, 
Fugues, serenades, grand oratorios, 
As suit the passing mood ; to such more joy 
Of melody in lumbering trains of freight. 
Than the dull mob would hear from angel- 
choirs ! 

" Through larger pupil some receive more 

light 
At eventide than others at noon. Small souls 
Cannot see large ! A great art-soul discerns 
More color in the purpling buds of March 
Than vulgar boors in Spring's vast wealth of 

bloom. 
Or Autumn's goldened fields, vermilioned 

hills, 
Enchanted mountains slumbering under piles 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 131 

Of metamoi-phosed rainbows ! He most meets 
Requirement for My Faith, who with a large 
Full-orbed capacity, fine spiritual nerve 
Behind big pupil, sees essential truth ; 
Catches the first faint glimmering of dawn ; 
Misses no ray from heaven ; discovers quick 
Whatever is of Me ; in spite of false 
Head-learnings hath heart-learnings sound; 

and though 
By many a doubt and dogma blinded, sees 
In Jesu's pensive face and lowly mind, 
His tender speech and healing touch, His 

strange 
And heavenly visioning, that life that dies 
And through death lives immortal, — more of 

God 
Than many a learned dolt, a well-trained 

parrot, 
"Who faith unsacraments, pronouncing all 
The shibboleths of his school, yet knows not 

what 
The grand first-born, fire-tried Confessions 

mean, 
Since he hath not through Love's clear e3'^e 

seen Me ! 

" "Who loves is born of God and knoweth 

God. 
I dwell in man intenser than in worlds. 
'Tis the divine within sees God without ; 



132 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

As with reflecting telescopes souls oft 

Aim skyward, but look down into themselves 

And surprised see the clear reflected God 1 " 

When human creeds contest, (") 
And Scriptures feign would fight, 

Let man in his God-dwelt breast 
Discern the right. 

" Alas, that what should Me reveal, obscures ; 
That what should bind Me closeliest to Mine 

own 
Sunders, and turns My children's trust away ! 
But, Nature, not far hence thyself shalt be 
My friend unhindered, clear interpreter 
To men of My profound intents. Be Thou 
My Book, My Grace, Man's second Trinity ! 
I tell thee, thou art true ; and truth alone 
Thou speakest. Yerily no fault I find 
In thee. Fair all thy forms. Thy discords 

help 
To deeper harmonies. True souls thy thought 
Shall readily catch ; shall not mistrust, mis- 
dread. 
Misread, misuse, misprize thee ; but shall face 
Thee straight, ask thy full mind ; then dare 

receive, 
Believe it, write it down, strongly commend 
Thee to their sons, un fearing what thy speech ! 
O, Second Home, and Church, and Bible, thou, 
To such as in deep depths of love love Me ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 133 

" Now, Nature, will we haste sad raisconceits 
To cure and hurtful heresies to heal. 
Already fleeth Darkness, dawneth Day ! 
Dost note how mend these times ; how Love 

its wise 
Supremacy assumes ? Love comes, a king 
Of kings. Love is the New Messiah, like 
The Nazarene anointed prophet, priest. 
And king ; true Prophet, teaching larger souls 
The larger truths ; Priest, making altars rich 
O'er all the gospelled world with offerings 
Of wealth and labor, lovely, lofty life, — 
Him copying who on awed and awful Cross 
Kissed hate to love, and death to immortal 

life; 
King also, kingly King, whose wholesome sway 
Not slays but quickens, guides, regenerates ; 
Whose laws obeyed augment man's liberty, 
Whose widening sweep helps civilization on, 
And fast compels the nations into peace ! 
O grand Shalomic Peace, whereof the Seers 
Of ancient Israel had vision, and spake oft, 
With threefold richness of significance ; 
A tranquil peace, with happy plenteousness, 
A people prosperous under smile of God ! " 

XIII 

More God! More God! let's cry; 
With measure slijfht we die. 
More God! The generous thrill 
Strong through ! Oh, not until 



134 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Charged with His millionth volt, (") 
We find safe Thunderbolt ! 
'Tis some few hundred odd 
That kill. Dare take more God ! 

" All Life is one, I immanent in All ; 
The child-cry and strong song of seraphim ; 
The worm and man of kindred ancient dust ; 
The palpitating ether that fears not 
The spheres of fire ; and spheres of solid fire 
That but for ether's wings might never fly 
Their dancing radiance down the steeps of Day ; 
The surging swing and sway of ocean-tides 
At silent signal of the midnight moon ; — 
Above all, through all, in all, immanent I ! 
Thou hatest a vacuum ; I more ! My might 
And light. My love and life, press hard through 

each 
Dear rift of Opportunity. And still 
In Man dwell I intenser than in worlds." 

Infinite God ! So far away 

Above our painM stretch of thought, 

O might'st Thou towards our weakness stray 
So we would see Thee as we ought ! 

Ah, might'st Thou but more finite be, 
Nor less the God, yet more the Man ; 

'Twere health, 'twere life, 'twere ecstasy — 
Thy hand to touch. Thy face to scan. 

Once wert Thou here in human frame, 

But, O, so long agone it seems; 
The distant God becomes a Name, 

We seem to see Him as in dreams ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 135 

Come down the heavens, come down the years, 
Grow like us, Lord, except our sin ; 

Whisper our eager listening ears 
Thou livest deep ourselves within. 

O Soul within this soul of mine, 

I hail Thy sacred immanence ; 
May mine be Thine, and Thine be mine. 

One interdwelt intelligence! 

Spirit of God, O help me when. 

Wearied with crying toward yon skies, 

To Thee, my heart's dear Denizen, 
Inward I turn my longing eyes. 

Thee, in my heavens and earth within. 
With better than poor praise I bless; 

To Thee I trust my headstrong sin, 
Soft resting in Thy warm caress. 

O Sovereign Soul within me, heal 
The broken bone, the failing heart; 

And to my weaknesses that kneel 
To Thee, Thy strengthening grace impart, 

Welcome, my soul's delightful Guest! 

Help smooth each angered, angering frown, 
Sing this torn breast to calm and rest, 

And lave and love these passions down. 

So may the heavens within me be 
Symbol of Thy pure heaven above, 

Clear as the cloudless, crystal sea, 
Irradiant with Thy golden love ! 

"In man I dwell intenser than in worlds; 
The trillioned ether-waves that quiver down 
The infinite star-realms be but the glad, 



1 36 THE DIVINE PR O CESSION JL 

Exultant, heart-beats of the great World-Soul 

That throbs eternally. These signify 

How through the human heart with threefold 

thrill 
Pulsates My quickening life ; now radiant 

light, 
Now fine and firm attractions ; euphonies now 
That far transcend the music of mere spheres ! 

"The world is full of melody and light. 
Whene'er I choose the solace of a psalm. 
The listening souls of ether loose their lips 
In lustrous praise. Ay, think what martial 

strains 
By little piping fifes lead armed hosts 
Through death to victory ! ^olian harps 
Let not the wild winds pass, except they pay 
Their tribute of a song. The world's alive 
With psalms and symphonies ; but leaden ears 
Hear not. If in a robin's throat such notes 
Of joy, if through some humble organ-reeds 
Such overwhelming melody of praise, 
Then from th' innumerous pipes that reach 

unseen 
To heaven, what thunders drown what thun- 
ders grand ! 

" I, immanent in all, see, hear, feel all. 
If ever weary with the antheming joy 
I some selectest spot indwell (as once 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 137 

The Holy of Holies) where by My key- 
board <^^> 
I tap the music of what world I will, 
Or set star-choirs a-singing, having each 
Its own distinctive motif, as each hath 
Its spectrum that doth show its temper well ; 
These songs without rough words I love to 

hear ; 
These interblending, then what psalmodies 
Magnifical be Mine ! As once one said, 
And well : ' From harmony to harmony. 
Through all the compass of the notes it ran, 
The diapason closing full in Man.' 
So, on each globe revolving round and round 
Like some vast phonograph, the songs and sighs, 
The frowns and smiles of universes play ; 
And aeons distant, whensoe'er I choose. 
Though all the stars but one had disappeared 
In death, this only with full freight of years 
I may turn backward, and shall hear again 
The myriad messages and musics, all 
That men mistakenly had deemed forgot ! " 

A myriad music lies asleep, 

Unknowing and unknown, 
Till through the reeds with tuneful sweep 

The breath of God is blown. 

Then through the waking pipes there thrill 

As love shall touch the keys, 
Now loud and grand, now soft and still, 

The heavenly melodies. 



138 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Lord, gather from each vagrant wind 
The songs that idling roam, 

So in these pulsing pipes they find 
Their own harmonious home. 

Let golden pipes give golden song 
For olden hearts and young; 

No sougless soul in all the throng. 
No gift of God unsung ! 

Lord, might we but responsive be 
To each dear touch of Thine; 

Our lives an anthem unto Thee 
With theme and tune divine ! 



" Such thoughts be dear to Me. The world 
is dear ; 
E'en this which strikes the physical sense ; 
But dearer far that realm by eyes unseen, 
By ears unheard, that soul-life that lies close 
To Mine, which interweaves and interlives 
And interloves with Mine. Souls outweigh 

stars. 
Outshine them, and outlast. In them I dwell 
More immanent than in worlds. My Poet 

brake 
In San Giovanni a classic font, and spilled 
The holy waters on the floor, to save 
A babe from drowning, — sacred sacrilege ; 
And I would crush My handful of big worlds 
Sooner than hurt one heart that seeks My 

face ! 
The songs of such I love ; by them am I 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 139 

E'en cheered. Close to their lisping lips I lay 
Mine ear, then rise to bless them. Here once 

more 
I by My key-board sit, and wire each soul 
To give Me some sweet song. Who singingly 
Asketh Me most, most pleaseth Me. In touch 
Keep I with all ; and the good lives men 

live, 
And the brave fights for righteousness they 

fight, 
And the true trust they cherish in My grace, 
And the sad tears they shed o'er sin, their 

pleas 
That would coerce the mercy of a tyrant, 
Their proud, exultant fealty to My Christ, — 
These be to Me songs in My sometime-night 
To brighten up the darkness into day ! 
I dwell in the spiritual ether which 
Pervades, outspreads the springing spheres; 

wherein 
Sweep eager waves of light and might and 

song; 
Their rich vibrations be the deep heart-throbs 
And heaving breathings of the Mighty God. 

XIV 

" They who to Nature's bosom closeliest lie 
Best note the pulses of My heart ; and such 
As deepest dwell in Me hear Nature best, 
And understand her language and intent. 



140 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

" Therefore I planted on this planet Man, 

A child of immortality in clay, 

In his fine form erect, with vision clear; 

His life below, his hopes beyond the stars ; 

Product and heir of all past centuries, 

Hope of sublimer ages yet to be. 

He meets My noblest purpose, who spurns not 

This mundane life as base, or the next as vain ; 

But stands straight up with both feet on the 

earth, 
His head uplift, his hands upon his task, 
His vision clear for service near and far. 
His heaven-hopes e'er kindling worthier zeal. 
His joy in duty done here whetting his taste 
For loftier aims and worthier work beyond ; 
Proud of his birthplace, faithful to his home, 
And bound to keep his name and title clean ! 
Such healthy, holy, whole Man is My son ! 

" Such, too, My Chosen. Not a weakling He ; 
Nor 'shamed of earthly friends and common 

toils. 
His Mother was a royal peasant maid ; 
And Joseph a blunt honest carpenter ; 
His brothers and His mates used to catch fish 
And sell them in the village market-place ; 
Himself a home-trained carpenter, and all 
His humble work was honorably done. 
Had He been called to carve an oaken throne 
Or build a ship for Caesar, He had not 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 141 

More honorably wrought than for the needs 
Of peasants. 'Twas His father's business He 
Would be about ; as patient mending chil- 
dren's toys 
As rearing stately homes and palaces. 

"Thus all His "World-Work is most worthily 

done 
From earliest planting to this fruiting time ; 
!N"o base material, no slighted task ; 
As genuine gems at the great mountain's core 
As on the surface shine; the unsearched 

depths 
Of oceans fuller of life all-beautiful 
Than the wide fields and forests and the air ; 
All honest art, and glorious, even like 
The Heavenly City, whose foundation walls 
Be garnished with all manner of precious 

stones. 

"And patiently Christ toileth through the 

years. 
Not ended yet His plans. His Day is near ! 
'Tis ever so ; His Day is always near I 
The Lord's at hand; but the Final Day yet 

waits, 
Shall yet wait long. If millions of old years 
Were in mere laying the foundations used. 
The structure in its building must take time ; 
And, once the edifice erected, sure, 



142 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

After such pains and skill it must stand long, 
Temple and Home and Palace of the King. 
No long-drawn ages patient with the fires 
And frosts, the scouring glaciers and the surge 
Of seas, and all the slow evolving life. 
E'en loveless lingulae lingering the long while ; 
And then for Man immortal in Mine image 
A heartless haste, undignified, shuffling 
Him off, — him worthy of the world, and world 
For him ; ere yet she gets her pay for all 
Her trouble, or he learns to use her as 
Abusing not, having hope set on Me 
"Who richly give him all things to enjoy ! 
Nay, he, rich in good works, and readily 
Distributing, shall lay in store a good 
Foundation 'gainst the time to come, 
So holy ages upon ages may take hold 
Upon that life which is true Life indeed. 

"This world I had My Son build for My 

praise ; 
Its central aim to incarnate mighty love ; 
For this, Creation travaileth till now. 
The Infant of the Years dies not a babe ! 
Not near earth's close came Christ its lost to 

save. 
The ancient dispensations were but steps 
That to the holy Temple led. The bulk 
Of human life was not to be bare hope 
Of what should be, but rest in mercy wrought. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 143 

No centuries of blind feeling after God, 
The finding to be followed by collapse ! 
That were to take the prelude for the song, 
The organ's tuning for the volumed praise. 
Nay, nay ! When after many centuries 
The Baptist cries : ' Behold the Lamb of God ! ' 
He calls to ages upon ages yet to come. 
When Jesus cries : ' Look unto Me all ye 
Most utmost ends of earth, and be ye saved ! ' 
He calls not chiefly those who, long since dead, 
Foreheard Him and foresaw ; nor those who 

dwell 
In centuries adjacent His brief stay ; 
But to the denser populated years 
That stretch immeasurable ages on. 
My countless children through yet countless 

times. 
Earth's no wee playhouse of the Bethlehem 

Babe, 
To be rash toppled over soon as built ; 
'Tis My Christ's home to dwell in ; glorious 

Church 
For centuries on centuries of prayer ; 
His palace, whence shall issue, till Far End, 
Rights and redemptions, law and love and 

life I 

" O, hear His Yoice : ' Surely I quickly Come ! ' 
Answer, ' Amen ! E'en so, Lord Jesus, Come ! ' 
His Time is Past. 'Tis the yet Far Unseen. 



144 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

'Tis close at-hand. Lo, in the heavens the 

Sign ! 
Behold, the Son of Man cometh in clouds, 
(How clouds conceal the while they glorify), 
With power and glory great ! And every eye 
Shall see Him, even they that pierced Him. 

All 
Earth's carnal kingdoms wail because of Him. 
Take heed ; watch ; pray ; for ye know not 

The Time ! " 

Cometh He now with holy angels bright? 
Cometh He now in robes of lordly light ? 
Cometh He now to wipe earth's orphan-tears? 
Cometh He now to right the wrongs of years? 
Cometh He now to help our hurt of sin ? 
Cometh He now to bring His Kingdom in ? 
Cometh He now Hell's stubborn gates to storm? 
Cometh He now His government to form ? 
Cometh He now our wars and woes to cease, 
Head over all, the mighty Prince of Peace ? 
Cometh the End, when the crowned Victor shall 
Himself be Subject, God be All in All ! 

" Ay, even so. Yet patience, Sons of Men ; 
E'en now He cometh, and forever shall ! 
The Lord is risen ! The Lord is risen indeed ! 
And for an age of ages shall He rise 
Till zenith of the earth's high-noon be reached, 
When the Prophetic Voice shall loud command 
The sun on this wide Gibeon to stand still 
Till conquering Christ put all beneath His 
feet! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 145 

" But know He cometh never as men deem ; 
Sages from far amongst the pagan fanes 
Followed their Star and found the Infant 

God, 
When they who kept His temple knew Him 

not. 
When found at length, these thought Him 

good ally 
To aid their schemes of wealth and pomp and 

power ; 
Most useful member of their business-firm ; 
A prince to well reward His partisans with 

office ; 
Ahasuerus over, they the great 
Kich Hamans riding proudly at His side ! 
O, even he who leaned on Jesu's breast 
Must quarrel with Simon for hanged Haman's 

honors ! 
His Coming ever, even now, the same ; 
Too oft the manger open but the palace 

shut; 
The wise, the strong, the reverend, all, stark- 
blind, 
While humble shepherds find Him, and 

adore ! " 

Mary and Joseph down to Bethlehem came 
To pay the Roman taxes, as assessed. 

Wherefore ? 
To signify the Babe of wondrous Name 
Would pay sin's taxes on a world oppressed. 



146 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

The Babe not in the Inn but hiimble Manger 
Opened wide eyes upon surprised earth. 

Wherefore ? 
To signify how He, strange little Stranger, 
Would love and lodge with men of lowly birth. 

The Cattle chewed their cud, then gravely sought 
To see the Little One they would not bruise. 

Wherefore ? 
They saw their masters' Master there, and thought. 
Who cared for oxen would not men abuse! 

Some Shepherds heard the happy Angels sing 
Of the dear Child, aud Peace to good-willed men. 

Wherefore ? 
O, He would be kind Shepherd and would bring 
His Sheep safe home, and Angels sing again ! 

From Persian plains three Pious Pagans brought 
Their precious gold and frankincense and myrrh. 

Wherefore ? 
God's Own Untaught have oft His robes rich wrought, 
While Greed and Creed builded His sepulchre ! 

These Wise Men came straight to Him from afar. 
Whilst nearby King and Jewry found Him not. 

Wherefore ? 
Clear Day shall dawn on who mind glimmering Star! 
Lo, Infinite God in th' Infant's hallowed grot! 

Then Herod for the Child made angry quest; 
Failing, slew all the Innocents in town ! 

Wherefore? 
He kills the Infant-Angels in his breast, 
Who welcomes not the Christ-King, and His Crown ! 

Ever God's Star ariseth in some East; 
Ever His Babe is in some Manger born ! 

Wherefore ? 
All noble souls but deem themselves the least! 
All Days of God begin with star-lit Morn ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 147 

" Wherefore, God cometh never as men deem. 
The Highest to the lowly, lowly bends. 
Ever hath He the hungering filled with good ; 
Ever proud rich hath empty sent away ! 
Therefore the poor in spirit blessed be. 
Lowly, and riding on an humble beast, 
Into each proud Jerusalem He rides ; 
To his imperial kingdom o'er the earth, 
He comes not with proud, painful pageantries. 
Parades of triumph, mobs of learned fools. 
No tool of tyrants and no pet of thieves, 
E'en from the sanctuaries will He frown 
And lash the sacrilegious robbers out. 
He preaches his Beatitudes again ; 
Blessed the poor in spirit, they that mourn, 
The meek, the thirsters after righteousness. 
The merciful, the pure, the peacemakers ; 
They shall see God ; they shall His Children 
be! 

XV 

" Now dawns a new and stately Day ; 

A century of centuries at hand ; 

Nature is quivering with spontaneous thrill I 

More eager she than man, herself uplifts 

Her veil to catch the Coming of the Christ. 

Nature doth feel the pressure of His feet ; 

And the winds and the woods and the waters 

watch and pray 
For Man's and her Kedeemer's hasting speed. 



148 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Dost note how eager and most jubilant she 
That men explore her treasuries. Day by 

day 
Some reverent searcher for the New meets 

rich 
Surprise. Impatient, she cannot endure 
That such vast stores of blessing be not blessed 
Through sacred service. Sorely grieves it her, 
Her waves grow weary with their useless 

surge, 
Storming stern crags, and grinding grists of 

sand, 
Omnipotent in rage since impotent 
To help ! 

" Sore grieves it her, her mighty winds 
Sail wailing down the main since o'er the land 
Their errands with sweet tidings be so few. 
Sore grieves it her, her lightnings shrieking 

fly, 

Striking the jagged peaks, angered since they 

May not in softer voice whisper of glory 

To God on high, and peace to good-willed 

men 
On earth ! The electric centres of the globe 
Through loud ^tnean trumpets make de- 
mand 
Outlet be given them instantly, so they 
May harness their huge might to draw the 
world 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 149 

Towards ampler civilizations I Some grand 

Day 
Her prayer for the conversion of the heart 
Of this strange earth to God's and Man's be- 
hoof 
Shall gladly granted be ; so, were the sun, 
Discouraged at her long delay in sin, to veil 
His face in shadows, out of soul of earth 
Would issue what would wake the cold to 

warmth 
And bury darkness under flowers of day. 
— Type of My Christ, forth from whose pierced 

side, 
When men frowned hatred on Him and the sun 
Withdrew his pleased smile so very rocks 
Did shiver into fragments with the chill. 
Poured that all-procreant light of love, which 

since 
Hath filled these fields with happy, fruitful 
life. 

" All these do signify what hides in Man ; 
What yet unharnessed waves of passion ; what 
Strange winds that wander aimless through 

his skies ; 
What untapped centres of prolific mights, 
What warring loves mistreated unto death ; 
Which, nursed and schooled and handed to 

dear Christ 
For His redeeming, would in turn redeem. 



150 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

O, many a tomb for bumble Joseph builded 
Dreams not it holds some Christ for resur- 
rection ! 

"Not only on fair Eesurrection-Morn 
When I shall call the dead to Judgment dread, 
When forth from lands and seas shall rise 
The multitudes new-bodied and new-souled ; 
But here henceforth shall resurrections be ; 
The tastes, the loves, the aims regenerate. 
These bodies templed by My Holy Ghost, 
Responsive to their inner Master's call ; 
Corruption into incorruption changed. 
Mortal to immortality, Death robbed 
Of sting. Grave spoiled of vaunting victory ; 
Such affluent health affirmed of influent 

grace ! 
Thence, through the pure and purifying heart 
Fresh vital blood pure as the mountain-springs. 
Thence manly forms on bones of steel to bear 
The burdens and the toils of life. Thence 

nerves 
Instant and vibrant to the soul's demands. 
Thence brain that easily, widely, wisely learns. 
And with a wisdom born of healthy heart 
Elects a life of love and use supreme ! 
Such godlike race shall make a godlike world; 
Thenceforth nor sun nor moon ; the Glory of 

God 
Shall lighten it ; the Lamb the Light thereof ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 151 

" Let but My Cross be lift o'er all the world, 
(My Cross, I say, not that alone of quivering 

wood 
And penitent nails, whereon once helpless 

hung 
My Son, thus helpfuUer to be ;) let but 
My Cross, My Cross of Love, whereon in 

heaven 
As well as earth, self sues for service, pleasure 
Is pleased with sacrifice, love longs to lose 
Herself in others' joy, and Death through 

death 
Comes reborn to sweet life ; — when this shall be, 
My kingdom is at hand ; and very Earth's 
True kingdom is at hand ; most opulent 
With gold and gems, with commerce and with 

craft. 
With glorious manhoods, statesmanships re- 
nowned, 
Learnings and sciences, wise faiths and hopes. 
Wars emulous of the victories of peace ; 
Nature and grace at last in sweet accord. 
The Altruism of science comes to be 
At one with great Christ's ancient Agape ! " 

Out of the plains lift the mountains, 
Out of the mountains pours wealth, 

Out of rough rocks flow fair fountains. 
Out of the fountains sweet health, 

Out under hills creep green meadows, 
Under thin soil hides a sphere, 



152 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Out of cloud-frowns God's soft shadows, 

Out of dark trials bright cheer ! 
Out from the uight the stars glisten, 

After long struggle comes ease, 
Out of earth's tumults we listen 

For the Coming of Christ and His Peace ! 
Out from dissensions of sages 

Truth as from promiseless clod. 
Out from the conflicts of ages 

Kingdom and Glory of God! 

" Meetly, My children, sing ye forth your joy 
At thought of Christ and His long reign of 

peace ; 
Peace in the soul that knows My parent-heart, 
Peace in the conscience manful for the right, 
Peace in the life at concord with itself, 
Peace in the Church where now rude rancors 

rule, 
Peace in the home where peace at-home should 

be. 
Peace in the rival toils and trades of men, 
Peace among jarring factions of the State, 
'Twixt Christian Nations peace from Christless 

strife ; 
Thrice happy Earth, peace be within thy walls. 
Prosperity within thy palaces ! 

" Meetly and sweetly, O My children, sing ! 
In all this world lie worlds of worlds asleep ; 
But Morning dawns, and quickly forth they 
rise. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 153 

As at some Resurrection, when sounds clear 

From near and far the trumpet ; then from 
plains, 

Seas, mountains, shall they come, — long buried 
mights ; 

And from beneath dead deserts shall they 
spring. 

From buoyant air, and yet more tenuous 
ether. 

And elements subtiler still compared where- 
with 

The very ether hath a curious grit. 

In Christ all life is made alive again. 

XYI 

" Even as He saith : ' Lo, I am come so men 
Have life, and have it more abundantly.' 
Earth's blackest stones be but condensed fire ; 
Her dark and deep abysms, net-worked 

through 
With arteries of ancient liquid light. 
Pulsate as though some giant heart below 
Throbbed to irradiate the world above. 
The mountains, stoic and stern, that never 

bend 
The knee to Me, but standing stiff loud thunder 

forth 
Their worship, with empurpled pinnacle 
Point toward My throne the homage of the 

plains ! 



154 "THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

O, but these mountains, mausoleums vast 
Of distant ages, where with tier on tier 
Repose the generations of the dead, 
Whose various life greeted the first faint dawn 
Of procreant sun upon the planet ; these 
Now yield their dead as though Christ's trump 

did sound. 
To rise in richer life, in flowers and fruits. 
In singing harvests, towering forest growths. 
In architectures, in great ships that put 
The power of ocean to the strain ; then Man, 
Forethought of Mine, though afterthought of 

earth, 
For whom the earth was born, for whom My 

Son met death ! 

"Ever I plow and plant the centuries 
Anew, each crop good in its time, but yet 
Of richer products prayer and prophecy. 
In all the lands lie buried treasures, hid 
Not by some pirate, but the generous years. 
Strange ! Ice-huts keep My northern children 

warm. 
The stored-up winter serves for summer 

health. 
What if, when temperate zones grow chill for 

want 
Of fuel, I bid men search beneath the Poles, 
And underneath the Borealis gleam. 
And underneath the creaking glacier's glare. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 155 

Where winds the fiercelier shriek for lack of 

prey, 
There search and find great treasuries of fire 
And force, forerunner of new lengthening life, 
Until still larger wealths along the shores 
Of time be found ? Just as when many in 

fear 
Have asked whence nations shall draw gold, to 

meet 
Requirements of the multiplying race 
In multiplying arts and industries; 
In far forlorn Alaskan fields of cold 
Where hungered mountain chasms yawn for 

food, 
The yellow Yukon and her confluent streams 
Be not unlike the New-Jerusalem streets, 
E'en of pure gold beneath transparent glass ! 

" What, too, if th' ancient alchemists were 

right ? 
What if, when need shall rise. My learned ones , 
Find out the art of Jesii' at the feast 
Where His sweet presence gave to marriage 

rite 
More tender sacred ness, and many a water-pot 
Of many a common element be turned 
To sumptuous vase, brimful of wines and 

wealths ? 
And wherefore not ? Already, unaccused 
Of heresy, shrewd savons speak of two, 



156 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Possibly three, possibly one alone 
Essential prime, wherefrom has been begot 
Creation's multiform atomity. 

" Again, and wherefore not ? Look at this 

ochrous ore. 
The sower must not waste his seed on such 
Infertile soil ! The children from their play 
May never bring this dirt into the house ! 
Yet but for some slight intermingling iron 
How shall the life-sustaining harvests thrive ? 
How trees be grown, or builded into homes? 
This lacking, how great ships be on the seas ? 
Was it not hence King Solomon got his nails 
Abundantly for gold-bound doors and gates 
Of temple most magnifical, to Me, 
Of fame and glory throughout all the lands ? 

" 'Tis the same all round stuff that stains the 

clay, 
With delicate art transforms the crystal pale 
To many a gem of reddening radiancy ; 
Then, as though these were nought, the plum- 
ages 
Of happy songsters in the wood shall be 
As bright and merry as their madrigals. 
This genuine child of clay, strong grown, hav- 
ing tried 
His art on pebbles and on birds, is loth 
To make an end thereof ; and every bush 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 157 

Shall blaze with jewelry ; each flower in field 
Or forest, atop the most aspiring pride 
Of wooded knoll, or modest like thee, dear 
Arbutus, flower I love much, 'neath dead 

leaves 
And snows blooming to grateful fragrance ; 

each 
Hath bloom and blossom tinged thereby. 

Then this 
Brave artist, as with coronet of flame, 
With broader brush rich Autumn's nutted 

hills 
Eussets and crimsons, to match well the glow 
And glory of the sunset skies. This same 
Plain stuff doth dare to touch fair maiden 

cheek 
With blush and flush of beauty, and whole- 
some soul ; 
And nerve and stiffen arm and spirit of man 
For masterful encounter with the wrong. 
And knightly might and courage for the 

right ! 
Transcendent triumph in divine emprise ! 
Such Iron as held the Saviour to the Cross 
Helps hold to Him else weakening sons of 

men ! 

" Of gems, by the way, I spake. Earth is a 

gem 
On the fair finger of the Queen of Night ; 



158 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

An antique jewel cut by Mine own art, 
Rough handled by the elements, sad worn 
By its rude handing down from age to age ; 
Intaglioed by the seas, and cameoed 
In continents that face Me with their prayers ; 
Fields smooth with th' smoothness of a child's 

soft cheek, 
Its mountains creased and wrinkled with its 

years ; 
Yet looked at from afar, divinely, this 
Imperial gem doth glow and blaze and praise 
Transplendently among the stars of heaven ; 
First having such rare qualities of substance 
As few spheres other have ; and next its own 
Inherent glory hath been well transformed, 
Incarnadined and glorified by Him, 
Who, with a love stronger than bands of steel, 
Auguster and more radiant than the sun. 
So chivalrously redeemed My wandering ones, 
That when I come to make My jewels up 
This gem shall outshine all upon My crown ! 

" Wherein is parable. I say not now, 

(Since Nature's secrets 'tis not Mine 

Rash to disclose — lest men shall lose the joy 

And inspiration of well-paid research,) 

I say not now, such interchange exists ; 

Nor that one matter all such forms may take ; 

Nor say I what is Matter, what is Soul, 

Nor how one may the other interdwell, 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 159 

As in plain Man, in Christ ine£fably ; 
Nor what that subtle essence of this or that 
Which Kesurrection predicates and shall 
More clearly show ; though this I ask the wise 
Philosophers who to Lord Motion would 
Kesolve it all ; How may this strange thing 

be, 
Since motion means a real somewhat to move ? 
On these not now I dogmatize. Nature 
Is her own wise interpreter to such 
As reverently seek, nor would I choose 
To spoil that fine exhilaration, nor 
That broader growth of soul that comes of 

search 
Profound. 

" Nature, be it well understood. 
Is not alone the outward rind which oft 
Is coarse and acrid, but the luscious fruit 
Within ; not the creased bark, — the spines, 

the wens. 
Nor mystic foliage, nor brave trunks of trees, 
Alone ; but that sweet extract of the rills 
And hills which up and down so silently 
Convoys each atom, building up the bush 
Into the forest's towering pride. Nor this 
Only is Nature ; but, far deep within 
The vital sap there flows more silently 
The liquid life of My pure Spirit. This 
Is Life of life, Nature all nature 'neath ; 



i6o THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

And who would her well understand must 

keep 
In his deep soul this rich indwelling life. 
This is true Substance, having myriad forms." 

Matter and spirit, ethers, pulses, these 
Be few contents with crude analyses; 
Only let each prove perfect in its sphere, 
And its own mission honor and revere; 
Only let Soul, supremest under Me, 
To the All-Soul attent and yielding be, — 
And Cana's wedding festival anon 
Invites the benedictions of God's Son; 
And humblest earthen water-jars refine 
To golden amphorae of golden wine! 

" Ay, what shall Cana's miracle attest ? " 

O Hallowed Day! O fairest Feast! 

Where Jesu glad consents to be, 
"Where, none more welcome than the least, 

Love holds her jubilee ! 

O, not in Cana's humble room, 

But wheresoe'er His kindred meet, 

Jesu, the Church's own Bridegroom, 
Each guest doth welcome greet. 

Hither let all draw near and see 
The wondrous wisdom of the Lord, 

His clemency in majesty, 
And hear His helpful word! 

Beside His board in peace recline; 
If food be lacking, bread is He; 
If wine, behold the life divine 
' He poureth free for thee! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL i6i 

Our earthen vessels, frail and slim 

He turns to carven urns of gold, 
And fills them to the flowing rim 

With wine-wealth manifold. 

Dear Jesu, these poor hearts of stone 

Convert to vessels of Thy grace. 
Filled with a fullness all Thine own, 

Eeflectors of Thy face! 

Be life Thine amphora amply filled 

With tears made sweet, and toil an ease, 

Which Thou with Thy dear love shalt gild, 
New worldful of Thy peace! 

So age on age the miracle 
Goes on, wherein the Lord transforms 

The ill to good, — strange spectacle. 
Rainbows right out from storms! 

O welcome, welcome, Jesu, be 

The struggling centuries to come, 
If through Thy gracious chemistry 

Thou create Christendom ! 

So, as at Cana's festival. 

It shall again be said that Thou 
Through prescient power and mystical 

Hast kept the best till now! 

" Lo, once again at wedding festival 
Attends the Wedding-Guest who lustre gave 
To Cana's simple rites. The stalwart World 
Stands Bridegroom, and the Spirit, deeply 

veiled 
So her fair features be but dimly seen, 



i62 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

The Bride. The mystic words of mystic love 
Are spoken ; they that once were twain be one ; 
The pleased Christ His benediction gives ; 
Their marriage is complete ; as with the 

Church — 
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, henceforth 

one ! 
O, ne'er such holy espousals ; ne'er such wise 
Affection, promise of such progeny, — 
My sons and daughters who shall prophesy. 
Did not My gentle shepherd-poet write 
That ' of the soul the body form doth take, 
For soul is form and doth the body make ' ? 
So when in one the soul and body meet. 
The man, the life, the world, all is complete. 

" "Whereby is signified ; the holy hour 
Draws nigh, when reverent purpose doth in- 
cline 
The seen and unseen, body and fair soul, 
To loving union ; each in other finding 
Dear counterpart and object of true love ; 
Such marriage-rite the Master glad attends ! 
Whereby is further signified, that just 
So far as Man, and then through hira the earth 
Welcomes My love, I am to all e'en more 
Than bride or bridegroom to the other. What 
Said great Isaiah for Me once ? Man ! Earth ! 
' Thy Maker is thy husband ; Lord of Hosts 
His Name, and thy Redeemer th' Holy One 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 163 

Of Israel, God of the whole earth, He ! ' 
Wide prayer was that of Jesu : ' May they all 
Be one, as, Father, Thou in Me, and I 
In Thee, that they may one become in Us ! ' 
Whereby further is signified, the Hour 
Draws nigh when, as at Cana, Christ again 
By miracle transforms to priceless wine 
All the plain waters that through homely soils 
And rifted cliffs flow, and through poison fens. 
And the great fountains of the seething sea ; 
Whilst under His inspiring word dull Earth 
Doth lose its vulgar earthliness, and turn 
To splendent urn, worthy its wine divine. 
Ay, by My glad right hand I pass it round 
So stars may see its beauty and taste its grace ! 

" O, dear to Me these Christly chemistries 

That sweeten earth's most sweetest festivals ; 

That choose the happy craft of making old 

Things new, of finding finest essences 

Of flavors and soft fragrances in dusts. 

Of teazing blazing diamonds from the night. 

Brave rights from wrongs, and e'en through 

War's loud woes 
Speeding Mine own dear Empress Mercy's 

reign I 

XYII 

" Ay, dear to Me earth's incompletenesses 
That cry for quick relief ! Jehovah would 



i64 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Grow weary, deem not worth the while to 

live, 
Might He not treasure spend and mercy and 

might 
Helping the helpless, blessing more the bless'd. 
Hear what I hear from the vast voiceless 

Void!" 



Nothing am I, yet immensest the mind can conceive; 

Nay, not conceive! As eternal as God ! For Himself 

Deep in strange me findeth room for to dwell in. Indeed, 

All else must have a Creator but such need ne'er mine. 

Ever so anciently me God began to destroy; 

Ever my regions invaded; yet have I as much 

Quite as before ; and forever at me may He hurl 

Infinite vrorlds, yet beyond Him, beyond Him, I fly. 

Kunneth His word very swiftly yet swifter run I; 

Me His keen eye cannot see, nor His ear overhear; 

Nor sad complaint need I make I be nought in His sight; 

Only 'tis I that defeat Him; beyond Him I hie ! 

Yet is the Master not grieved I oiitreach His stretched arm, 

Thanketh me He the long while for fresh space for His 

worlds; 
Yea, were He momently making spheres great beyond 

spheres 
Yet amplitudinous spaces through ajons were His ! 
Thunder-loud to Him the calls of Unseen and Unheard; 
To the eternal I am calls the vast I AM not ! 

Naught am I, not am I, yet do more prayers come to me 
Than universes of life and of light high upraise ! 
Since I be weak I am strong; I unseen hold great lights; 
O, 'tis the empty He fills; of the nought makes He all. 
Fill me with Thee, ay, with Thee ! In the dark leave me not ! 
To the eternal I am cries the great I am not ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 165 

O, if His children, His creatui-es, like me would but pray, 
O, would but open their voids and just let the God in, 
Worlds upon worlds of fair light should be theirs, and the 

Lord's; 
Agelessly glory to God, worlds upon worlds without end ! 
Here is more room for Thee, God ! Set more spheres in array. 
Thy prayers for room, lo, I meet with my prayer for more 

Thee! 
To the eternal I am calls the endlessly endless am not! 

" Ah, not in vain such voices from the Void ; 

They hint My further opportunity, 

And quick Mine eyes behold where naught is, 

warm 
My heart grows for what is to be, and here 
And there, beyond Beyond, Mine eager hands 
Plant infant seons on fresh infant spheres ! 
And what hath been shall be ; and what hath 

not 
To life shall leap ; and unknown lights shall 

burn ; 
And souls unlike all souls that ever grew. 
Clothed in unique, majestic, beauteous forms, 
Such as those new and diverse atmospheres 
And gravities necessitate, shall feel 
The vital thrill, and by My help work out 
The problems of their destinies ; if need 
Be, helped therein by special grace of Him 
Who by His incarnation and rich death 
Hath won for Man his immortality. 
For Earth her singular glory, for Himself 
The holy Hallelujahs of the Worlds ! 



i66 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

" But if sweet passion move Me to fulfill 
The cry of I am not, what answer Mine 
To children of Mine erst begetting, much 
Endeared through love expended on them long. 
And sacrifice of the Beloved One, 
And love for love returned, though sparingly ; 
Ah, still, whate'er their years, such younglings 

yet, 

Unskilled, weak, tempted, who just like dear 

babes 
Know not a loving parent's name, only 
The father's smile, the mother's fond caress. 
And laugh or cry as pleasure prompts, or pain ? 
What means My Name ? Of Mine own right, 

I AM ! 
And then what stands it for, save that who 

will 
May use that right of will and close thereto 
His hungering heart may name each varying 

want ? 
As though to say, I am thy Father, Mother, 

Husband ; yea, 
I AM thy Child, to mould Me as thou wilt, 
In spiritual travail first, and then 
In all thy spiritual patiences 
With Me, thine inward life, in all thy loves 
A Saviour ; or, a great spoiled Child angered 
And angering thee to tumult ; ay, better 
Were I still-born than misreared up — thy 

curse ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 167 

"Nay, by My Godhead I protest against 
Undeification such ; better blot out 
Were I, and all My stars, than thus to fail 
Of what I AM thy God for ! Nay, not so ; 
My Name ineffable shall mean to thee 
Blessings ineffable, and that who will 
May use that right of will, and to I am 
May add what most godlikest title he 
May like, in heaven or earth, or right by hell, 
Face heavenward ! Almost I envy those 
Blest parents on the earth whose children 

trust 
Them so. What I do infinitely crave 
Is that My children understand, love, like. 
Me downrightly ; that I may bless them so. 
An infinite pain, that infinite Fatherhood 
Be trusted, fondled, and obeyed with less 
Delight than graceless human parenthoods ! 

"Nor care I how My children this great 

Name 
Pronounce, — Adonai, Elohim, Jehovah, 
Yahwe, — or whether awed affection stands 
In worship mute before the Lord Jhvh ! ^ 
Only if heart of Man the heart of God 
Doth seek, and trusting tell its humble need, 
Such creed My soul Avith rare delight doth 

read, 
Such fairest prayer I grateful speed to heed. 

^ The Hebrew unpronounceable divine name. 



1 68 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

" Nor mind I though, unknowing this ra3'stic 

Name, 
By other style they call Me, such as they 
By their poor infant-parents have been taught ; 
Nor though they lisp and stammer in their 

laud 
And prayer. If, John-like, they lay troubled 

heads 
Upon My bosom silently ; or if. 
Dear-baby-like, they peer into Mine eyes 
And laugh ; or stroke My cheek with chubby 

hands — 
Or lean and skinny through some starving 

woe; 
I kiss them with My kisses o'er and o'er ! 
Ay, if, their eyes unopened yet to th' light. 
They stretch their tiny hands as if for Mine, 
And, finding, leave them in My tender grasp 
As to My leading e'en then gently yielding; 
I will, I will, their Father be ! 

"Or if 
The little helpless nurslings toward My breast 
Keach up, and o'er and o'er for mother-cheer 
Shall feel, then Mother I be ; and each soft 

knoll 
Of fruitfulness shall be a nursing breast ; 
And the wide swelling bosom of the sea; 
And the round globe, all mountain-nippled 

o'er 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 169 

Like her of Ephesus, the many-breasted, — 

(Nay, far unlike unfruitful Artemis, 

Though she were heaven-descended, though 

had wings 
To mount the skies again, though by each 

hand 
Might lead a lion leaping to the chase ;) 
Ay, unlike her in sportful fruitlessness, 
My many-breasted earth her bounteous milk 
Should give to feed My babes ; and sun and 

moon 
And fervid star their palpitating breasts 
Should earthward curve to give them nourish- 
ment ! 
O, these but shadows be of heavenly light, 
Dim symbols of the mother-love of God 
Upon whose bosom infant weakness, ay. 
And infant penitence, their aching heads 
May rest, sobbing their prayers ; whiles I 
Straight fold them in My soft, safe, sweet 

caress. 
And stroke them down to quiet, and nourish 

them 
So they fall soon to sleep, then wake to laugh ! 
O, can a mother her sucking child forget, 
Nor have compassion for the son of her 

womb ? 
Yea, though she may, yet ne'er forget will I ! 
Nor useless labor Mine, but sweet reward. 
Yea, have ye never read : ' Out of the mouth 



1 70 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

Of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected 

praise ' ? 
O, I too, patriarch-like, shall be bereaved. 
If of My Children I bereaved be ! 

" The prayers that fly from souls distressed and 

blind 
With tears I catch, as arrows on the shield ; 
My thought not being whither the arrow flies, 
But whether aimed well, with purpose straight, 
And with full strain of soul, so th' arrow flies 
With one's full draw ; and if so be, I'll see 
The arrow finds the shield, or — shield finds 

arrow 1 " 

'Tis well to know our life's a school of training; 

On benches hard we writhe through many a day; 
Our lessons needing many a kind explaining; 

With teachers dull and cross we make essay 
To spell the mysteries out, ofttimes complaining; 

Yet happy we, that time not far away 
Shall all our toil with worthy wealth repay. 

We be young archers; and our prayers go flying 

Hither and thither o'er life's mystic field; 
What God asks is we do our faithfullest trying 

To hit His shield; and if it be revealed 
We aimed well, our utmost force applying, 
He says — liking the way the bow we wield: 
"Shield finds the arrow that missed the aimed-at 
shield!" 

" So, if sweet passion move Me to fulfill 

The Void's imploring calls, and then yet more 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 171 

The half-unconscious cries of helpless babes ; 
What answer Mine to souls of faith and brawn 
Who Me have learned to serve ; great spirits 

that burn 
For holy deeds, court perils for My sake, 
And wait intent and eager for My will ? 
Such men, and th' causes they stand stoutly for. 
Be filled with Holy Ghost. Yet still of Him 
The more they hold, the ampler room for 

more ! 
Spake not these visitants from worlds afar 
Of great ' Earth's very emptinesses filled 
With Deity ; Creation's fullnesses 
For Him yet finding room ; vast underworlds 
Of God ; of God in God ; of God outside 
Of God'? Where most I dwell and thor- 

oughest. 
Eight there is call for Me imperative. 
If Man within his bosom deep God's Yoice 
Shall hear, shall not I hear Him and obey ? 
I ask nor men nor angels bend in prayer 
Where I pay not My richest reverence ! 
Deep was the thought of Jesu when He 

taught : 
' Who to the least of these My little ones 
Good doeth, it he doeth unto Me.' 

" Ay, unto Me ; the Soul of very soul, 

Of life the Life ; wherefrom, wherein, whereto, 

All being is ; ay, Me, in man the God 



172 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Who only makes him man ! This son of man, 
Yet more this son of God, tingling all through 
With noble blood and purpose eminent, 
vEons behind him of persistent wars ; 
^ons ahead — e'en now, as down some long 
High-arched banquet hall, illuminate 
With joy, he sees the banneretted walls 
Already signalling his hasting triumphs. 
Him shall I not attend to when he calls ? 



" 'Tis Mine own Yoice within him that I hear. 
First by My Son divine made I from naught 
The earth and set it 'mong the glittering orbs, 
And then by His redeeming was it born 
Anew ; now by these sons and daughters 

build 
I it into a radiance supreme 
O'er all the constellations of the skies ; 
My New Jerusalem out of heaven come down, 
These souls her flaming seraphs round My 

Throne 
Whereon in majesty magnific sits 
The Son, My King of Kings and Lord of 

Lords ! "" 

Now shall the Kingdoms of this world become 
The Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ! 
Forever and forevermore reigns He ! 
"We give Thee thanks, O Lord, Lord God Almighty, 
Who art and wast and art to come; because 
Unto Thyself Thou takest power, and reignest! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 173 

XYIII 

" Right wisely shall He rule who wisely loves ; 
Nor His to hurt, nor to destroy in all 
My holy mountain ! He with happy art 
Of conquest blendeth gracious sovereignty ; — 
As generous nations deal with isles redeemed 
From bondage to the blinded bigots, strange 
Unpriestly priests, whoredoms at very shrines 
Of Mary, taxes throttled beggary yields 
To pay the purse-proud persecutors' fees — 
To such, a noble nation freely grants 
A freedom to be free ; free in their hearts 
And hands, their homes, their hopes, freedom 

from man 
So they be free toward God ! Then shall their 

shores 
Welcome a friendly commerce, all their hills 
Leap as before the Lord with fruitful palms ; 
And chivalrous men arise, and virtuous dames ; 
And sons and daughters stand and serve and 

sing. 
Such freedoms, treasures, children, giveth the 

King ! 

" Lo, who shall count the islands of the main 
That heave their heads to breathe My vital 

air? 
Or measure oceans that bemoan their wraths, 
Nor dread their fate — ' Let there be no more 

sea'? 



174 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Who, count the mountains that on reverent 

brow 
My sacred chrism receive, and stately stand. 
As consecrated priests ; as prophets, too, 
That My truth see afar? Who, count the 

woods 
That bend before My breath in holy prayer 
My sacramental waters to receive ? 
Who, all the plains that on their tables spread 
The everlasting eucharistic feasts ? 
Or who, the deserts that long years have lain 
With hearts sore prostrate o'er their barrenness 
Till that there is a God they have forgot ; 
Yet underneath whose sterile sands there flow 
Impatient streams that, hearing My clear 

Voice, 
Shall them surprise with fragrant, fertile 

bloom ? " 

Bloom on, ye Deserts; from waste years surcease; 
Calm you, ye Seas; Messiah speaks your Peace; 
Mountains, behold, the darkness is withdrawn; 
With torches gleaming, hail the hastening Dawn ! 
The Lord doth come with all His richest stores; 
O Prince of Peace, Thy princely reign begin ! 
Lift up your heads, ye Everlasting Doors ! 
The King, the King of Glory shall come in ! 

" Now let My Noblemen to lordly tasks ! 
This their own Day, and Mine. Ye who the 

signs 
By clearer light discern, be men. In these 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 175 

Colossal years sleep wakingly the fires 
Of generations, Down to you hath come 
From hero-sires good stuff for martyrs. Kich 
From their historic deeds your heritage ! 
Their hymns of faith still thrill to chivalry. 
Right well they lived the Bibles that ye read, 
Their margins all illumined by their blood — 
That not for cowardness to crimson blushed — 
Limned to lifelikeness of their Lord and 
Christ ! 

"How hath Sir Truth like fearless warrior 

waged 
The fight ! "What arms, equipments, battle- 
grounds ; 
At times defeat that nerved to stronger strain ; 
Then triumphs that for new ones edged new 

zest! 
Truth, first to last a hardy Hero, yet 
From age to age with choicer arras arrayed, 
Tutored in strategy, with comradeships 
From hostile camps the fight of faith to fight ! 

" This Chieftain, at the first prime savage, clad 
In raiment scant, in figure fine, at home 
With the dark dangers of the woods, keen- 
eyed, 
Among the brutes Lord Brute, straight- hearted 

he 
As straight his arrow-flight at foe. Later 



176 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

A wealthy Sheikh, his browsing beasts among 
Obeisant to the stranger, to his guest 
Frank, unbetraying host ; to enemies 
Fierce as the mad simoom ; in thoughtful night 
Student of stars and God ; precursor he 
Of those Wise Men who in the East My Star 
Beheld, and with their golden gifts hasted 
To welcome and adore the Bethlehem Babe, 

"Came then My priestly prophet-king; true 

priest, 
Since in his soul burned sacrificial love ; 
Prophet, since love hath vision and godlike 

speech ; 
And genuine king, because like prophet he 
Had insight, therefore foresight, so real realm 
And rule ; his, only, right divine of kings. 
To him the writing of My Word did I 
Commit, My Covenant and Testament, 
My special grace and inspiration under, 
Whereof th' essential substance stands forever, 
'Interpretation flexible, alway 
Progressive with the fuller Holy Ghost,' ("^ 
As men have light to see the light therein. 
As saith My Son : ' I have yet many things 
To say to you, but now ye cannot bear 
Them. When the Spirit of Truth is come, He 

shall 
To full truth guide, and things to come make 

known.' 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 177 

"Thenceforth till now have risen men of might 
All peoples of the earth among, e'en those 
To whom only bare echoes of the song 
Have swung, and vagrant visions of the 

night. 
But chiefliest among the happy heirs 
Of Bible, Sacrament, Church, Charity; 
(In whose sweet names, alas, what damned 

deeds 
Of darkness sometimes wrought !) men of true 

might. 
With vision vast, with breadth and brawn of 

grace. 
Who low have laid demons of earth and air, 
Angelic truths and ministries have planted ; 
And builded holy palaces wherefrom 
The enthroned Christ wider forevermore 
Extends His own divine benignant reign ! 

"Visions be theirs, great world-compelling 

truths ; 
Labors herculean lightened much by love ; 
Nor more they heirs of all past ages than 
Founders of wealths and healths for time to 

come ; 
Beacons that out upon the wave-swept cliff 
Dare stand alone in the tempestuous dark 
To warn the stranger off the dangerous way; 
Toilers in mines of blackness so the earth 
Get light ; chivalric chieftains who for truth — 



178 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Though churchless world and worldly church 
should curse 

Them to the face — clear the bright path for 
what 

My Spirit may reveal of sacred New, 

"While holding firm the olden, golden Good 1 

That olden, golden Good, for which have 
stood 

My valiant martyrs, Christ's proud Brother- 
hood, 

Sealing their faith in sacrificial blood ! " 

Not less lov'st Thou the silver shafts of dawn, 
Nor less the midday's lustre on the lawu, 
Nor less the aureate splendors of the west, 
Nor less the stars that sing thy babes to rest! 

Rich be these days in ancient and in new, 
Eich in true souls that either reverent view, 
In lovesi lives, gospels, conquests that are come. 
And thy yet Christlier conquering Christendom! 

O sacred Time for which the past was born. 
Of God's great Day auspicious, radiant mom, 
Heaven and the earth have waited for thee long; 
Now, long thy shining, clear thy song, and long! 

"Yours now, My Chosen, mission high-re- 

now^ned, 
Being true Sons of Mine, to be new christs. 
Creators and redeemers, making old 
Things new, and out of seeming nothingness 
Compelling spheres of service and of joy. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 179 

"Lo, where Euphrates pours her snow-born 

stream 
There now be found among the mournful 

mounds 
Of that Great Babylon I builded not, 
As likewise where the tortuous Tigris winds 
Her weary way, as though she might again 
Her mighty Nimroud see rising to build 
The city that I spared though her own sons 
Destroyed ; the chastely graven seals, couches 
Of carven ivories, the tell-tale tiles. 
The human-headed bulls and lions fierce 
That stood for beastly-hearted conquerors, 
Sceptres of gold, and lions' jewelled eyes, 
The jasper, amethyst, emerald cylinders. 
With royal dates and conquests all o'erwrit. 
The very bricks the slaves trod on impressed 
With the proud names and titles of the kings. 
All these, o'erawed by their own ancientness. 
Rehearse in sacred silences to these 
Free-questioning years the olden Hebrew 

Scripts 
Of My creative and upbuilding power. 
The low estate of man through primal sin, 
The fearful fate befalling all the sons 
And daughters of mankind ; save only him 
Who humbly hearkened to My warning voice, 
Rebelled against the mad rebellion round. 
And, warned by Me of things not seen as yet, 
With pious fear prepared his house to save 



i8o THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

In heaven-plann'd ark, condemned the world, 

and heir 
Became of righteousness which is by faith ! 

" So in her sackcloth and her ashes robed 
Doth Nineveh the highways of to-day 
Walk up and down, better than ancient Jonah 
Proclaim My message, preach My word, and 

cry 
To unbelieving Jonahs of the guilt 
Of sin, and th' tender mercies of their God I 

"And thou, benignant Nile, who from thy 

source 
Among the equatorial heights and heats, 
Where the Moon-Mountains fain would kiss 

the stars, 
Dost lordly bring the treasures of the south 
To spread them through the rainless desert 

lands. 
And give thy gift of Egypt to the world, — 
Pouring thy wealth as many miles along 
As the rich Kiver of Life thou signifiest 
Hath rolled its waters of salvation down 
The years ; thou knowest how upon thy 

shores 
Most venerable dynasties have risen 
And fallen, with arts and learnings vast ! O, 

not 
For naught thou lived'st. As in bulrush ark 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL i8i 

Among thy waters smiled serene the babe 
Who was to found My chosen Kingdom, so 
'Twas thine to cradle many an empire grand, 
And many a noble mission ; generous 
Inspirer of the arts and arms and aims 
Of peoples who, outlasting Egypt's prime, 
Should tearlessly behold her mournful end ! 

"Nay, Egypt, liv'st thou still! Thou who 

of eld 
Did'st nurse the babe that gave the Hebrew 

law. 
And- afterward safe-hide till Herod's death 
The Yirgin's Infant who all law fulfilled, 
And in brave death won life for human-kind ; 
In sacred hiding hast thou held till late 
Thy priestly learnings and thy reverend rites, 
Thy magic arts, the secrets of thy skill 
That planted firm thy mountain pyramids 
Midst shifting sands, (nomadic like thy tribes 
That rove !) and builded palaces and tombs 
And columned temples that would fain at- 
test 
The might and majesty of God ! Thy Sphynx, 
Thy Sphynx, mysterious Egypt, is thyself ! 
Thy mummied kings already find in these 
All-quickening times their resurrections ! 

Types 
Of genuine resurrections yet to be. 
And of thy cherished immortalities, 



i82 THE DIVINE PROCESSIOMJL 

True sign ! Thy now unsealed hieroglyphs 
Teach these and coming years that, howe'er 

dark 
Mine own deep mysteries may be in grace 
Or providence, some day by patient souls 
And true their meaning shall be learned, e'en 

such 
As in most desert places hide. 

" Thou know'st 
That old basaltic stone, Kosetta's sands 
Among, and now an hundred years agone 
By Europe's most accomplished murderer 
Made known, whereon in triple speech was 

writ 
A record by the ancient Memphis priests. 
For long it baffled modern wit ; at last 
By some whose wisdom seemed to have the 

pith 
Of piety the meaning was found out. 
The Greek divulged the strange demotic 

tongue. 
These two the Hieroglyphic riddles did 
Expound; and thus informed these kingly 

times 
Stand face to face with thy proud ancientness. 
Interrogate thy mighty pyramids, 
Enter thy shrines and palaces to hear 
Thy kings relate their conquests, and thy 

priests — 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 183 

Their lips unsealed — disclose the mysteries 
From ages and from generations hid ; 
So men amidst thy solemn silences 
Hear all the learning of th' Egyptian land 1 

" Illustrious Egypt, how thy sovereign Nile 
Doth hint My mystic and majestic Stream, 
That down the long and peopled years 
Beneficently flows; upon whose banks 
Luxuriant harvests thrive, and cities grow 
Of grace and wide munificence ; no tombs 
For death to build and death to decorate, 
But living temples in whose reverend courts 
Love's sacrificial fires forever burn, 
And inmostly My holy glory glows ! 

" Thy sands, O Egypt, have their sanctities ! 
To them in times remote were given in trust 
The temples and the tombs, the granaries 
Wherein My youthful patriarch- prince did 

store 
The products of the seven plenteous years 
To feed else woeful years of dearth and death. 
The palaces on which My people toiled 
"Whose angered bricks to-day the stubble show 
That pricked and tare their tired feet as they 
Forth trudged for straw to suit the tyrant's 

whim. 
Ah, might they then have known, might suf- 
ferers now 



1 84 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

But think, of Him whose feet so travel-worn 
Were pierced by pitiless nails, His tender brow 
By thorn-crown. His great heart by human 

scorn ! 
For sake of Him dire tasks would lightsome 

seem, 
Tears but a dream, and pain a joy supreme ! 

" Do not thy Pithom-Succoth stones still mark 
The way My people from oppression fled. 
Until at last, O ye benevolent Waters, 
Ye saw them near; then awed and awful 

stood 
On either side to let them safely pass ; 
Then deep in death engulfed the hostile 

host?" 

O dread Siroccos! O Siroccos sweet! 
Your furnace breath hath sometime healthful heat! 
Your burning blasts that frighten Afric's land 
Blow o'er far northern gardens, soft and bland ; 
"While many a script from some great prophet's hand 
Have ye kept safe beneath your sheltering sand! 

"Ay, better than t' have handed down the 

years 
The Pharoah's solemn dust with features stern 
As though e'en yet an empire begged his 

mercy, 
( Not his alone who brake the Hittite power. 
And treasure-cities built, and temples grand, 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 185 

Mixing their mortar with Mine Israel's blood, 
But his also, the founder of his race, 
Great architect of Egypt's dynasties ; — 
Strange now their silence in these noisy 

times ! — ) 
Better than this, your mission, winged Winds, 
And winged Sands, to be sarcophagi 
Wherein be safe entombed the kingly words 
And kingly deeds of holy heroes, choice 
Mementoes of the Christian origins ! 

" O happy Pools, nestling near burning wastes, 
That 'mong your lily fragrances brought forth 
That learned reed, whose flowers were crowns. 
Its pith for furnitures, its roots for fire. 
Its stem for aught from sandals up to ships ; 
Learned Papyrus, stored with memories 
That touch upon the immemorial years ; 
How do your waters in the sunlight dance 
In joy of rearing such most priceless life ! 
Most beautiful Papyrus ! Who would deem 
Thy tender stems might such libraries make 
As gave the Alexandrian city high renown ? 
Yet not her sacrilegious burning, nor 
Hath length of years, brought all thy work to 

naught. 
Sirocco's flaming sword protected thee ! 
The threatening sands that buried, succored 

thee! 
Among a myriad mounds there slumber yet 



i86 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

The bodies of dead learnings that but wait 
For resurrection. Each with a sweet pain 
Cries : ' Lift the stone, and thou shalt find 

me.' Ay, 
Lift up the stones ; ay, lift the sands ; and ye 
Sacred memorials shall find of Me ! 
Drear Lybian deserts blossom like a rose 
With the sweet Gospel Logia they disclose! " 

Jesus saith: " Ye must look kindly, 

Mote from brother's eye to cast; 
And ye may not see My kingdom 

Save ye verily, truly fast; 
Yea, except ye keep real Sabbath 

Ye shall not the Father see; 
For the sons of men do grieve Me, 

That so blind of heart they be! " 
Logion Fourth hath one word, " Beggary! " 

Thus is human need defined ? 
Jesus saith: " Where one such soul is 

There am I with succor kind. 
Raise the stone, and thou shalt find Me, 

Cleave the wood, and there am I! 
Lo, alas, in Mine own country 

I, the Prophet, vainly cry; 
Rather than have Me to heal them. 

My poor people droop and die ! ' ' 
Jesus saith: " My city, builded 

High upon the steadfast Rock, 
Cannot from the world be hidden. 

Nor shall mind the earthquake shock! " 

Seven sayings be unriddled. 

One may not be now made known; 

Lord, as ages follow ages, 
Open to Thine Own Thine own! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 187 

" O Egypt, dark with rustling, shadowing 

wings, 
Swift in thine ancient vengeances, exult 
Not over-greatly at Assyria's fall — 
To be so shortly followed by thine own ! 
Exult, that 'neath thy shadowing wings of 

power 
Have nestled safe such precious sanctities, 
Until they feel this present thrill of life. 
And issue forth in happy, holy haste 
To certify the Christian verities ! " 

Lo, how dead ruins of the past be builded 
Into the worthier structures of to-day, 

And long lost lore and rusted truths, regilded, 
Be set in fair and reverent array ! 

From Ethiop's lofty, rock-outspringing fountains 
Flows empire-building, world-enlightening Nile; 

In clouded cloisters under Sinai's mountains 
Hid Gospels wake to make earth's sadness smile. 

Long prostrate kingdoms now revive their glory 
As they Thy mighty wonders. Lord, record; 

And pagan tongues rehearse the Christian story 
And newly bid us keep Thy sacred Word! 

" All which, My Children, hath this lesson 

large : 
The old confirms the new, the false the true. 
These be like symbols of the large access 
To Christianness that from unthought-of 

realms, 
And realms thought of as only full of ill, 



1 88 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

Now seasonably comes. Amidst the false 
Grows truth, the soil oft strong by being run 
To weeds. In pagan gardens be true trees 
Of life ; but dwarfed amongst entangling vines, 
Their beauteous flowers ill-pollened ; mostly 

fruits 
Unsweet ; save where some holy graft outlives 
The ancient gardener, or goodly seeds 
Have by some kindly bird of Paradise 
Been carried from a distant gospel-land. 
Often My garden hedge is broken down ; 
Alas, that weeds should find their way there- 
through 1 
But, o'er the fallen stones My vine sometimes 
Will find its way through thickets and the 

thorns, 
And on some heaven-aspiring forest tree 
Crown graceful branches with the grateful 
grape ! 

XIX 

" Meanwhile, no life so utterly alone. 
Whether in time, in distance, or in thought, 
But hath its varied contact, hath its good 
To take or give ; and what I speak to souls 
Others shall hear ; and what I thunder forth 
Or whisper low is heard ere long by all. 
The ferment of the atoms signifies 
The universal firmament's unrest, 
The liquid equilibrium of the spheres ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 189 

"Behold how now from all the lands and seas 
Float, on the tides of commerce, to each shore 
Their precious products, all the numerous life 
Of oceans, long-stored wealths of mines, the 

fruit 
Of loom and grinding mill, of bulk and brain. 
The storm-torn mountains and the valley's corn ; 
Ay, all the earth-wide waters and the air 
By refluent tides their purity renew. 
And keep th' eternal balance of th' globe. 
As 'mong My stately stars it journeys on. 
Descending and ascending endlessly ! 

" And what is Life but one majestic sea 

Of sovereign breadths and depths unpierced 

by light ? 
On her far shores alike old shattered hulks 
And wakeful signal towers and steepled towns. 
Cities renowned in crafts and ships and 

wealths ; 
And in her midst bright islands bathe and 

laugh 
Where sickness seeks the soft salubrious breeze ; 
Where zephyrs sigh, but hint not angry storm 
With sudden cyclone circling down to drown 
The myriad music of the mystic main ! 
Lo, on her bosom float the mystic ships ! 

" They come ! the ancient galleons, built up 
Like castles on the waves, freighted with stores 



190 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

The Middle- Ages wrought ; they come, the 

ships 
That once among the Isles of Greece with 

pride 
Conveyed what her illustrious sages taught ; 
They come, the barques that from far Ophir's 

mines 
Brought gold abundant for Jehovah's House, 
And from the Indies pearls and priceless gems ; 
And yet they come ; they come as written : 

The kings 
Of Tarshish and the Isles shall presents bring; 
The kings of Sheba and of Sebah, gifts ! 

" They come, they go, over these mj'^stic seas 
The mystic ships, with myriad mj^stic wares ; 
Fabrics of ancient and of modern looms. 
Most deftly done by delicate human hands. 
Or loudly wrought by engines of such power 
As late propelled the angry ships of war 
That with two monstrous thunders deep in 

death <"*) 
Sank century-builded wrongs and tyrannies. 
And resurrected Liberty to life ; 
Freights from the mines ; and from the main 

soft pearls ; 
Gems that on breasts of king and kingling. 

Beauty 
And Beast, have proudly shone, or blushed for 

shame ; 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 191 

The spoils of war, and fruitfuller spoils of 

toil; 
'Longside thick tomes of bulky nothingness 
Volumes Mine ancient and more modern seers 
Have packed with learnings human and di- 
vine ; 
Choice cargoes of those sacrificial gifts 
The centuries have to centuries handed down ! 
Type of Mine own eternal Charity, 
Thou restless, soundless, boundless, sovereign 
Sea ! " 



Ay, what is Life but one majestic sea 

With winds and tides coursing unceasingly, 

Conveying from the tropics to the pole 

A genial glow and solace to the soul; 

While from the north the cooling breezes bring 

To sultry southern isle the hardier spring? 

Meanwhile hath Life this privilege supreme, 

That, like the mighty and mysterious Stream 

Which from the Caribs hastens heated forth 

To melt the threatening icebergs from the north, 

It pours more procreant winds on every hand 

Blessing or friendly or unfriendly land; 

They little dreaming how an unseen sea, 

Like unseen God, confers prosperity! 

Through mystic oceans mystic rivers sm'ge 

Soothing the seething isles, and scourging scourge 

Away; the barren reefs awake to bloom, 

And tempered breezes breathe their soft perfume! 

O, if upon Life's mystic bosom broad 

Might float some signal of the nearing God, 

As he of Genoa spied the drifting frond — 

And knew the land he sought lay just beyond! 



192 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

" Therefore say I : My generous Noblemen 
Have generous task on hand and generous 
Reward. Heirs of the ages, they ! And what 
Now is, is theirs to make in better wnse 
The world's and Mine ! The commerce of the 

seas 
Floats all to them, and down the stream of 

time 
Drift all the treasures of the ancient years. 
More potently than e'er before, all things 
Be theirs, and they be Christ's, and Christ is 

God's. 
Theirs now to gather ancient stuffs and new, 
Sort out the worthy, cast the cheap away ; 
The tattered purples of real kings to mend, 
Their crowns reset with jewels where the old 
Are lost ; to rub away the must and rust, 
Restore the primal lustre ; and to take 
The time-worn books, erase the scribblings 

babes 
Have scratched upon their margins, and revive 
The saintly Bibles and the Bible-saints. 
Theirs now to choose the choicest gems of 

truth, 
"Whether from drift at some great mountain's 

foot. 
Or from its rocky and most richest heart ; 
Whether from streams that through the classic 

vales 
Flow peacefully, or from some torrent wild, 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 193 

Or from the darksome depths whence India's 

divers 
Bring gems that hint the Pearl of priceless 

price. 
Theirs to be true to Truth ; nor may they 

turn 
The eye one point from light, nor shrug with 

fear 
Their shoulders at My Voice, or loud or still ! 
Theirs, conscious of My deep indwelling Soul, 
To note Mine inmost pressure ; glad to give 
The world what I give them, mindful of 

naught 
Save minding Me, and through Me ransoming 

men ! " 

I may not know the wondrous Ways 
The Lord to ancient Prophets spake, 

His Poets bade to sing their lays, 
And Kings His conquests undertake; 

An Angel with his flaming sword ; 

A night-reared Ladder, Angel-trod; 
A burning Bush, whence spake the Word; 

A still, small Whisper, straight from God; 

A Nathan's speech, Thou art the man; 

A sore sense of a Nation's need; 
A new and solemn Truth that ran 

Into a People's sacred Creed; 

A Seraph-song, the clouds among. 
That scared but thrilled the Shepherd-heart; 

A light Noon's strange effulgence flung 
The persecutor's path athwart; — 



194 "THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

All this I may uot know, and should 
Such Voice or Vision mine e'er be, 

Perhaps appalled my spirit would 
From His unwonted Presence flee! 

Yet Dreams we dream, and Visions come, 
And Voices speak to them that hear; 

And Angels visit oft the home 
That hails the hour when God draws near! 

Pity, O Lord, the lives that turn, 
Unlisteniug, from Thy sacred Speech, 

When simply Thy sweet will to learn 
Were more than worlds of worlds can teach 

O, mine, among earth's silences, 

To hear Thy low, soft-whispered thought, 

And midst my human darknesses 
Discern the Visions Thou hast brought! 

Nor fearful, I, of some brave deed, 
Some threatening foe, some Cross uncouth! 

Only be mine Thy Cause to speed, 

And love Thine inmost, utmost Truth ! 

O Visions, shine! O Voices, speak! 

God's worthiest work and will declare! 
O manful Men, His semblance seek; 

Trust Truth and Love; dear Duty dare! 

" Visions and Voices yours, and Victories, 
If well attent with open eye and ear 
Ye catch the signs of these imperial times, 
And set your courage to a high resolve. 
The past is ripe ; ye may not now let rot 
The fruits of fertile years, nor suffer aught 
To kill My new and gracious gifts, whereof 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 195 

Is now such precious promise for the world. 

The very wrongs of ages fresh inspire 

Brave souls to more magnific enterprise. 

The hurts of human hearts make quick appeal 

To human charities. The night invokes 

The day ! All nature feels the pulse and stir. 

My sons and daughters speed them to their 

tasks ; 
And Godhead, immanent now as ne'er before, 
A new and worthier creation speaks, 
With swift and startling sequence of events ; 
Nay, reaches towards creation's nobler end. 
Consummate flower and glory of the old ! " 

Behold, another six days' work is done; 
Behold, another Sabbath has been won ! 
A Sabbath in Thy Paradise restored 
Fairer than Eden with its flaming sword ! 

XX 

" What if I hint those far geonic years 
Of these were types, and not ignoble ; though 
In life so low, in work so slow, that each 
Long second lasted while in heaven's tall 

clock. 
Light, like a jewelled pendulum, beat far 
Across the starry disk, from Cassiopeia 
To where the Centaur swings his club of fire ; 
Yet worthier far be these whose seconds be 
The heart-beats of the Universal Love ! 
I say, those ancient days these symbolized. 



196 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

They were the earthy moulds in which I cast 
My spiritual substance ; models in clay, 
That I might see, and angels, and the worlds, 
How such and such might suit Me and My 

hosts. 
And pleased was I ; they also ; and I called 
Them good ; and after their image made I 

these ! 
In nature, and in man, and in the Christ's 
Great empire, this same process sevenfold, — 
After six days of toil the Sabbath rest ! 
!Note what the great Creative Days attest ! 

" To-day I sort the light from dark, and shoot 
Through hopeless mists the gleaming shafts of 

dawn. 
To-morrow earth learns her mere earthliness 
And of o'erbending skies of tears. Next day 
Appears the solid ground, whereon may stand 
Far hence, My sons, while round them threat- 
ening roll 
The billows of life's awful mysteries ; 
The earth meanwhile at her glad industry 
Of growing herbs and trees, just learning how 
She may in later nurseries grow men. 
Next wakes a subtle consciousness of day 
And night, of self and other self, of earth 
And higher heaven ; and the benignant sun 
Appears, streaming his radiance o'er the 
world ; 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 197 

The moon also, who doth advantage take 
Of dark, to show heaven's all-surroundingness, 
And how no. distance parts Me from My work ; 
No star so far but swings its lamp high up 
The mystic stairs the untried traveller treads. 
Now, too, the seas bring forth abundantly 
To show how all My deeps be deeply filled 
With joyous life to all such souls as see. 
O, if Mine own might only understand 
That only on the surface of the seas 
The terrible billows rage, beneath is calm, 
Peace undisturbed by wind or tide ! Far down 
The depths which peering sun may ne'er ex- 
plore. 
There thrives a multitudinous gladsome life. 
Dark waters My pavilion round about, 
Where I the Lord them do keep secretly 
From pride of man and from the strife of 

tongues ! 
— The fifth age hath its evening and its day. 

" Now through another diuternit}'' 

Of dark the sixth day dawns, wherein, as 

though 
The very ground were conscious and alert. 
The cattle on a thousand hills upspring. 
And all such beasts as upright stand, or creep 
In lowly state, or at the fostering breast 
Their tender younglings feed, thus nourishing 
The filial trust and the parental love. 



198 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

These hint the afternoon's immortal work ; 
Much that, alas, shall choose in mire to crawl, 
But much that shall stand firm and face the 

sky, 

Much that on love's soft bosom soon shall 

learn 
The motherhood and fatherhood of God ! 

" Then said I : Let us make Man in our image, 
And let him have dominion over earth ! 
Spirit is he, after our likeness, so 
A godlike form to give th' enfolding clay. 
After our likeness ; enigmatical Us ! 
Intensive godhead fit for godlike work ; 
Sharp challenge to Mine own infinity ; 
In quality allied to the eternal Word, 
The Spirit who o'er Chaos once did brood. 
The Fatherhood whence ceaseless They pro- 
ceed! 

" Nor say I that no angels heard, nor say 
I that no morning stars together sang, 
Nor that the Sons of God shouted for joy ! 
Nor say I not, O Nature, that I spake 
To thee, asking thy counsel and thy help ! 
Nay, spake I not to thee this wise ? ' Let us 
Make Man in image and likeness of our own ! ' 
Thine, Nature, in that outward form and state 
Whereto thou wast for long time used, thine 
own 



tHE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 199 

Best dust, with thy best blood and spirit filled ; 

Nay, not one moment of thine aeons, not 

One atom of thy weighted globe, not one 

Soft quiver of the breath, but should have hand 

In fashioning the coming sons of men ! 

Mine image, in high-thoughted reason, that 

Imperial Ego that hath liberty, 

Hath wisdom, conscience, spiritual sense, 

Affections worthy of eternal life ! 

In counsel thus most multitudinous 

Created I in our own likeness, Man. 

Of dust is he, yet chieflier of soul. 

My child charged with earth's first immortal- 

ness, 
With leave of an enlarged capacity, 
And with his growth the increase of his race. 
And with his growth My wider sovereignty, 
And with his growth more for the heavens to 

do; 
And for his life and growth The Wonderful 
Is Babe of man and Babe of Very God ; 
Augustest of immortal Miracles ! 

"Then saw I everything that I had made 
And called it good ; this called I very good. 
The heavens and earth were finished, and their 

hosts. 
Evening and morning made the full sixth day. 
Resting then from My long creative work — 
The Seventh Day I hallowed and I blessed. 



200 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

But, lo, began the Sabbath, with the night — 
As from the first all days had their beginning. 
And 'twas as though the heavens affrighted 

were, 
They held so far away their darling stars 
Lest they might catch some darkness from the 

earth ; 
Yet from their high safe distance would they 

flash 
As ne'er before ; though w^illing oft to wheel 
Away and take the darkness off, so I 
Th' effulgent sun might bring, and nigh and 

square 
Above the earth place him majestical. 

" Then when withdrew the half-reluctant stars, 
O, never burst such eager crimsoning dawn; 
Ne'er had the noon with affluent splendors thus 
Flushed all the world. So ardent burned the 

Sun, 
That down great years some pagans caught 

the light 
And after him named their prime festal day, — 
That festal Da}^ that faded not, but glowed 
More gloriously into its nobler self ; ("^> 
As from the tomb of painfuller night arose 
With'rare commingling rays the Sun 
Of Righteousness, with healing in his wings ! 
Hail, festal Sabbath Sunday of the world ! 
Hail, Festal Day of earth and heaven ! Hail ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 201 

" And this My Sabbath now ! This is My 

rest, 
My work, My beatification ! This 
The Day for which all other days were made ; 
For which I wrought, for which I prayed, for 

whose 
More fervid, further shining I implore 
The implorations of the sons of men ! 
To Me Creation calls, and I to her ; 
(Each th' other's servant, each the other's 

lord. 
So far as each hath love :) ' Into Thy rest 
Arise, O Lord, Thou, and the ark of Thy 

strength ! ' 
And each in other finding rest exclaimeth : 
' This is My rest forever, here My home ! ' 
Ay, this Mine own — more than creation hath, 
Since just begins she to find rest in love. 
The six days' work, the carnal work, is done ; 
Each issuing slow from darkness, and through 

night 
Passing to nobler day ; till now at length 
'Tis as that shining light that, oft obscured, 
More and more shineth to the perfect day. 
Hail, Festal Day of earth and heaven ! Hail ! 

" Such is the rest My children with Me share. 
When, ended six days' toil, they cease there- 
from. 
And in communion with their Maker find 



202 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

A hallowing peace, foretaste of heaven's own ; 
And in home-loves and sacred charities 
Him copy who the Sabbath blessed anew. 

" Such is the rest that for My saints re- 

maineth 
"Who in brave faith have wrought and borne 

and conquered. 
Blessed the dead who in the Lord die, for 
They rest from work made labor through some 

sin ; 
They rest from labor ; but their works of love — 
These cease not, but eternal follow them ! 
They in that holy angel-sphere do serve 
Both day and night ; but all so joyously 
That night and day be quite alike to them, 
Perpetual service their perpetual rest ! (^^) 

" And such their rest, who, on the earth abid- 
ing, 
Make life mean love ; season each bitterness 
With sweetness ; in hot fires with psalm-sing- 
ing 
Accept divine refining of their gold ; 
Through lifting others' loads make themselves 

strong 
Their own to carry ; fill and trim their lamps 
For them that walk in darkness, and more clear 
Their own way make to Paradise ; ay, find 
With sweet surprise their Paradise below. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 203 

They find their rest the best, who rest 
Kot day nor night, but ceaselessly 
Cry : ' Holy, holy, holy. Lord, the God 
Almighty I Which was, and is, and is to 
come ! ' 

" Such on My great Creation's Sabbath is 
My rest. Nor cease I from My work ; nor yet 
Changeth My nature so more godlike I ; 
Nor moveth in Me love more infinite ; 
But larger vessel larger inflow holds ; 
Ever to him that hath shall more be given ! 
O, it did seem to Me in those far years, albeit 
The various life had such felicity, 
As though My heart would break with pent 

up grace 
Till Man should come with rank and quality 
Keceptive and responsive to My thought. 
Here, here, is room for love ! — And when he 

failed 
Me, and shut hard his soul thereto, then said ' 
I : Here is room, here all the roomier room ; 
His need for Me I need ! Ah, may I but 
Break open that shut heart. My aching heart 
Shall ache no more with painful strain and 

vain! 

" And thereto did I set Me. I was done 
"With making aught from naught, and naught 
from aught 



204 "THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Again ; was done with fixing up the world 

A wide Jardin des Plantes, and stocking it 

With ever new perfumed bloom ; was done 

With new inventions of terrestrial life 

That well-nigh vexed the waters and the main 

With their superlative multiplicities ; 

Was done with carving beasts in th' image of 

man, 
As they should after carve Mine after them ; 
Was done with making make-believes of 

men 1 

" Then he of whom all else before was type, 
Himself poor type of Him who after came, 
He at My word appeared for whom were 

made 
In humbler sense all things, and by whom all 
In humble sense were to be made anew. 
And when he failed Me, through his yielding 

weak 
To sensuous tastes, then said I, In the Christ 
I make anew this poor man ; and all else ! 
And Eden's fences tore I down ; and man 
Into the forest passed ; and Eden's fruits 
I bade him plant and grow ; and the world's 

weeds 
He must uproot — better — make new, convert 
By gentle culture to what would redeem ; 
Symbol of that sweet artifice of grace 
That 'mong the thorns finds finest fragrances, 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 205 

In tear-wines a divine catholicon. 

Thus Paradise beyond her fences grows 

To earth-wide breadths of holy, fruit-f ul peace ! 

" So, all done making aught from naught, for 

naught 
Th' immortal ; very death I vivified. 
Anew, anew, My godlike breath I breathed 
Into man's soul, not nostrils only ; like 
A. drowning wretch, with a rough tenderness 
I handled him ; did beat him, lift him high. 
Did cast him low, did turn him o'er and o'er, 
Used e'en th' attractions of the earth to draw 
The strangling waters off; meanwhile My 

blows 
Amidst, the breath of life I breathed afresh 
Into his waking breath ; whilst fervent speech 
And reassuring smile inspired with hope 
Of life ! With such most precious resurrec- 
tion. 
My Son and His dear w^ork and end forecast- 
ing, 
My day of rest I hallowed and I blessed ! 
My work My worship, and My worship love ! 

" What now though pain be here, if I but may 
With thrills of joy disperse it ? What if now 
My wit should sublimate man's nature, so 
Reconstitute his moral nerves, that pain 
Have ravishment, as martyrs. anciently 



2o6 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

In brave-borne flames their euthanasia found ? 
What now of sin, if I may love it down, 
If I may speak its pardon, heal the sore. 
Make failures give impulse to betterness. 
Let storms compel deeper root-hold in grace ; 
Persuade My patient to more vigilant care, 
His sorrows soothe with soft, sweet sym- 
pathies. 
Close to My bosom fold him, make him know 
He is My child however hard offending ; 
My sinful child for whom My sinless Son 
Shall with My full consent a sinner seem, 
And to th' extent of dreadful dying go, so 

each 
With other may the wealth of heaven share ! " 

XXI 

" Now He who with Me builded heaven and 

earth 
Buildeth with Me on earth a heaven in truth, 
A reverend temple, past the secular fanes. 
At th' end of the long avenue of years ; 
A temple founded deep in clay, with rock 
Of Mine eternal purpose under ; all 
O'er-arched with dome of golden day ; whence 

spring 
Aloft the cross-crowned spires wherefrom 

sounds out 
To wide-spread peoples call to praise and 

prayer ; i 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 207 

Its stones from rock-heart quarries, by hard 

tool 
And toil of Providence to fitness shaped ; 
In her foundations sapphires and all stones 
Of preciousness ; her windows agates ; gates 
Of rubies, endless gems embordering round. 
Not yet all builded ; though the worshippers 
From near and far assemble reverently ; 
Not builded all, but year by year it lifts 
To greaterness and broadens o'er the earth. 
And in the last days shall it come to pass — 
Above the hills and mountain-tops shall stand 
My House, and to it all the nations flow ! 
Their lowly worship cheers My work of love, 
Nor train in vain Mine own for realms above ! 

" At times I catch the snatches of a hymn 
That through these echoing arches quivering 

thrills 
Of some choice cloister to Me consecrate. 
Ennobled by its fresh and generous joy. 
Nor mindless I of fine consummate art. 
Nor of poor art if heart be only rich ; 
Nay, art is not, where heart hath not her part ! 
And such hymn hearing, I do somehow deem 
It amplifies and glorifies itself 
To foresight and to fore-song of that time 
When, like a soul of peerless consecration. 
The august world and all that is therein 
Shall prove My House of Dedications ; where 



2o8 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

The upward steps and open door invite, 
Where opaline lights, the sacramental feast, 
The organ leaping to exultant praise, 
The cleansing font, the Word transcending all 
Earth's lower learnings, the upspringing spire, 
The bells that whelm the over-realm with song 
And set the hills a-ringing all around, — 
These signify the consecrations holy 
Of souls and solemn centuries to come ! 

" Have ye a song a-trembling on your tongues, 

Panting to sing, but at My presence awed ? 

Though praise may stumble, it shall bring Me 
cheer. 

If raised from humble hearts that sing sin- 
cere ! " 

O Mighty Father, Spirit, Son! ('S) 
Thou wondrous Three in wondrous One; 
In whom the worlds of worlds all live! 
To us, Thy poor blind children, give 
Some vision of Thy favoring face, 
Some tender token of Thy grace! 

We bring Thee, Lord, what is Thine own, 

Thy thought and skill, Thy wood and stone; 

We pray, this Temple fair and strong, 

For peoples, many ages long. 

Accept, so it may ever prove 

Thy House of prayer and praise and love! 

Type may it be in all its parts 
Of loving lives and holy hearts; 
Its beauty, symbol of Thy peace, 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 209 

Its massive strength, of Godlike grace, 
Its blending lights, of virtues fair, 
Its music, of praise-mingling prayer! 

Lord God of Hosts, as we ascend 
These stately Courts, vrilt Thou descend 
To meet and greet our worship! Bless 
Us with Thy presence in the stress 
Of life; teai-s, faith, work, patience, love, 
Steps, all, to lead above, above! 

As through these Windows common light 
Is to our wondering, raptured sight, 
Transformed to inspired evangelists, 
Angelic choirs, death-conquering Christs; 
So through our human lives may shine 
Transfiguring light and love divine! 

As on the Desk from all sides round 
Fire-jewelled light, like lucent sound, 
Illumes the "Word ; so from all lore 
Of earth, on speech divine outpour 
New soul; Truth's vesture richer made, 
Woven of sunshine and of shade! 

As round the Consecrated Board 
In memory of our absent Lord, 
We eat the bread and drink the wine. 
Not absent be, but near! We pine 
For Thy Real Presence day by day, 
So we may dine with Thee alway! 

As through the throbbing Organ reeds 
The bounding air to music speeds. 
Thy Temple quivering with the strain; 
So, Breath of God, in mercy deign 
In us to throb and thrill, so we 
Be organs of rich praise to Thee! 



210 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

As from the strong Tower, far adown 
Loud sound o'er the surrounding town, 
The swinging, swelling songs of bells; 
So o'er earth's plains and heights and dells 
May we, from lofty life and song, 
The call to worship God prolong! 

O Mighty Father, Spirit, Son! 

Thou wondrous Three in wondrous One! 

This House from base to eminent spire. 

Nave, pulpit, altar, font and choir. 

Ourselves, our all, Blest Trinity, 

We reverent dedicate to Thee! 

" With cheerful grace bless I each house ye 

rear — 
Or massive minster, or an holy soul, 
Or conclave of adoring worshippers ! 
This is My Eest forever ; here I dwell ; 
I have desired it and abundantly 
Will bless ; her poor will satisfy with bread ; 
With My salvation will I clothe her priests ; 
And all her saints shall shout aloud for joy ! 

" And therein type and prophecy of that 
Imperial Cathedral of All Saints, 
That, not as on four corners of the earth 
Shall stand, but on the whole round globe, and 

lift 
From North and South, and from the East 

and West, 
Far heavenward her wide expectant gaze ! 
No land nor sea whereon it resteth not ; 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 211 

No healing breath from height or mighty 

breadth 
That bloweth not its open windows through ; 
No new nor antique learnings that help not 
Expound the blessed gospel-law ; no star 
Burning amongst the radiant host that points 
Not some wise Magi to the cradled Christ 
To see in Him the sovereign Prince of Peace ! 
No bitterness without its healing myrrh ; 
No honest homage without frankincense 
Of fragrant praise ; no gold, but, had it choice, 
Would displeased rust in hands profane, but 

gleam 
With light in vessels for the Master's use ! 
No lowly life that lifteth not therein 
Some ladder of ascent, or timber frame, 
Or lay precious though rudely carven stone 
Perchance in worthier inconspicuous place ; 
No quarrymen, but from far quarries help 
To build and gem and glorify the House 
Of My Great Glory I eternal raise ; 
All on the Prophets and Apostles founded. 
My Christ the elect and precious Corner- 
stone ! 

Almighty God, whose power and grace 
Encompass our wide human race, 
In heaven glows Thy Temple grand 
Whose pillars on the low earth stand; 
Through storied height, to utmost zone, 
It rests on Christ the Corner-Stone. 



212 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

No kindling sun hath such fair light, 
No daring star such stately height, 
No court resoundeth with such song 
As pours its hallowed aisles along, 
Nor e'er was builded fane or throne 
On such illustrious Corner-Stone. 



Yet usest Thou our faulty toil, 
Findest far down in earthly soil 
Some quarry, whence with art all Thine, 
Thou workest forms almost divine ; 
Earth is unto God's Temple grown, 
Harmonious with its Corner-Stone. 



O Lord, beneath benignant skies, 
'Midst scenes Thy favor beautifies. 
Our hopes, our prayers to Thee we raise 
And found a Temple to Thy praise; 
Our humble work propitious own 
As now we lay the Corner-Stone. 



Except the Lord the house do build. 
Except with grace the house be filled, 
All labor vain. O Christ, impart 
Thy saving spirit to each heart; 
By Thee, to Thee, on Thee alone, 
We build. Thou fairest Corner-Stone! 



Here may the truth and right grow strong, 
Here love prevail Thy saints among, 
Here sinners feel Thy quickening grace, 
And seek with hasting joy Thy face; 
Here thousands gladly make Thee known 
As their eternal Corner-Stone. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 213 

Build Thou the walls! Make them so glow 
With glory, we on earth below 
The eternal splendors shall foresee ! 
Grander than Salem's may they be, 
All luminous with grace Thine own, 
From topmost peak to Corner-Stone! 

"How may I otherwise than bless? From 

base 
Obscurest to exultant eminence 
I bless, e'en the rough rubble binding firm 
Th' magnific marbles ; fails My smile no tool, 
Nor toiler; but beyond all measure blessed 
Is he who, whatsoe'er his task, straightway 
Performs it with a grateful reverence. 

" Like some who in the Middle Ages wrought ; 

When rank and power and wealth and poverty 

In piety joined hands, rearing a church (^^) 

I hold so choice, since 'twas so choicely 
builded. 

Few hired laborers there ; they wrought for 
Me! 

Their grace the great cathedral's grace out- 
shone ! 

Day gave not time enough, night lent them 
hers. 

As quaint annals of th' ancient times relate — 

Together, side by side, and heart by heart ; 

The men, the maids, the youth, wrought; 
none too old 



ii4 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

And none too young ; save sweet babes that 

cried not 
But smiled at the dear kiss their mothers 

kissed 
On parting, for a task so holy. Some 
Helped venerable trees to kneel, and some 
The lowly quarries lifted heavenward — 
Their rocky faces wrought to angel likeness ; 
Some in the traces gat to draw the carts. 
Whilst others pulled at ropes ; and some 

pushed hard 
The creaking loads of lumber, lime and stone, 
An hundred to a wagon, shouting psalms ; 
Anon in silence, in the middle night. 
As though too sacred for a spoken joy, 
Till broken this by sobs and sad confessions ; 
Which, waxen tapers on the wagons hear- 
ing, 
Would flash fresh light upon the weeping 

way ! 
Meanwhile one might nor high nor humble 

work 
Essay, who had not every wrath laid by — 
Which were distempered mortar, periling all. 
For neither then nor now was ever builded 
True man, or church, or empire, without love! 
Then round the rising walls of the great 

church 
Momently mounted night-dispersing praise 
That set the stars a-quivering with delight. 



THE DIP IN E PROCESSIOMJL 215 

O, had those childlike children held their 

peace, 
The very stones had cried in pained joy I 

" Almost I envy their sweet childhood glee, 
Their world's newness, their awed expectancy ! 
What if, some day, I might surprised be ? " 

O Worldly World ! Wilt have quaint task ? 
Suppose this boon of God thou ask! 
Forgive, Lord, this irreverence, — 
But close, Just close, those constant eyes! 

Quick ! now, O World, from each ofEense! 
Quick — with thy heartiest penitence ! 
Quick — with thy tearful love intense! 
Quick — at thy sincere sacraments! 
Quick — in thy heavenward ascents! 
— Now, watch as He thy mending spies! 

Father! Open those closed eyes! 
Dost wonder at this different guise ? 
Now, hast Thou not Thy pleased surprise ? 
Ah, World! Thou too surprised hast come 
To thy new-quickening Christendom! 

"Fair World, arise 1 Fair Church of God 
awake 

To thy new splendors ! Lift thy vaulting 
spire. 

Bid the ambitious bells fling wide their glad- 
ness. 

Let peoples all hear call to worship ; hills 



2i6 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

And mountains be o'errun with paeans speed- 
ing. 

Let Charity's choice choristers, white robed, 

Angelical evangels chant adown 

The aisles of time ; and through compulsions 
tender 

The woes of life be wooed and won to glad- 
ness; 

Her angered heart become an angel-home ; 

All Time an holy Pentecost wherein 

The pagan peoples of the earth shall hear, 

And the poor pagan peoples of the soul. 

In their own tongues the wonderful works of 
God ! " 

Now to thy blest baptismal waters haste, 

O Love, thy converts from the worldly waste ; 

Forth, and baptize thy healed heathen host, 

In Name of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ! 

— Now, open wide, O World, thy wondering eyes ; 

And let the Master's meet thy glad sui'prise ! 

XXII 

" O World, transfigured thy fair face to-day ! 
With the warm radiance of a happy conscience 
The skies of thy soul be bright ! They match 

right well, 
In nature, and evolving from the dusk 
To brightness, thy celestial spaces that 
Impress the physical eye. An hundred leagues 
Up through the azure atoms one may view 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 217 

The Moon ! The tiny children of the Night, 
Untired by travel, unfrighted by the dark, 
Dayshine all gone, find easy way therethrough, 
And bid thee merry be. Thy firmament 
So crystalline, one at the top might catch 
The fragrant crimson of a rose afire ! 

" Not always thus. Content the infant flowers 

Lived midst the shadows of the elder world 

With simple verdancy, russet, or sable ; 

A myriad form of beauty in eclipse. 

No knots of rubies on the rounding knolls. 

No fragmentary rainbows on the plains. 

No mountains built up of massed goldenness ! 

" As the industrious ants, when some intruder 
Invades their home and breaks the arches 

down. 
Hither and thither haste the sad debris 
To put away, and build anew, not one 
An idler ; so, scarce one inhabitant 
Of those old fields and forests but did work 
To take the mists away and make bright day. 
And all the winds wide wandering o'er the 

world 
Did learn of it, and bring from loftiest heaven, 
And from the roaring main, to every plant 
Its measure of ethereal substance ; so 
A friendly commerce formed, this giving that 
The fibrous food, that giving this in turn 



2i8 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

The vital air, like a real breath of God 
That giveth life to all ! The mutual grace 
Helped each, and through the pleased skies 

the sun 
Flushed the new blushing flowers with bloom ; 

such gems 
As coming crowns might envy as their peers ! 

" E'en then to that which gave, was given ! 
As once 

Through rapt Hosea I did prophesy : 

* In that day it shall come to pass that I 

Will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the 
earth. 

The earth shall hear the corn and wine and 
oil. 

And they shall hear Jezreel ! ' — Shall Jezreel 
not 

Hear Me ? — Meekly My flowers breathed fra- 
grances 

Upon the air ; this returned light ; which both, 

In happy turn, this priceless substance wrought 

Into a trillion iridescences ! 

On larger scale My clouds unenvious 

And grateful sought to copy them ! Then 
scarce 

A leaf that fluttered not with panting joy. 

The foliaged fields cleansed lurid skies of 
gloom. 

O, not one forest giant but foresaw 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 219 

The glowing days apace, and far aloft 
Outstretched long limbs to draw the darkness 

down 
From cumbrous skies ; not one soft mossbank 

hid 
In mountain clove, or multitudinous jungle ; 
Nor one rash grass that on the sandy dunes 
Dared the wild dangers of th' devouring waves 
To help build up a bulwark 'gainst the tide 
And make safe harbor for the ships of men ; 
Not one, but prayed that hastening 4ays 

might less 
Tenebrious prove ; whilst with them populous 

fields 
And wilds wrought at their marvellous chemis- 
tries, 
Through multi-vein'd leaf-lungs absorbing 

dark, 
Exhaling pure promethean oxide, live 
"With life, and light with fire ; their every 

breath 
A benediction that did bless the dull, 
Deep ether with a warm transparentness I 
A sea of glass like unto crystal ; nay. 
But as of Wisdom spake My sage of Uz ; 
The gold and crystal cannot equal it ! 

" In such wise through the reverend years 

hath wrought 
My Spirit in the life of Souls. My Son — 



220 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light 

of men ; 
And though the Light shone in the darkness, it 
Did comprehend Him not ; did not perceive. 
Possess, use, understand Him. But 'twas His 
By fervent light to wake to consciousness. 
To stir desire, to set life hungering 
For life, to whet the quickening appetite. 
To start the man t' acquiring manf ulness, — 
Making more room for deep in working God ! 

" Let him that heareth hear ! Hearing makes 

ears! 
Looking makes eyes ; loving makes love ; doing 
Makes larger being ! Unto him that hath — 
In very soul, where having only is — 
Is given. Who hath not thus inmostly 
Loseth his all, since he hath lost himself ! 

" Therefore, as when My pristine creatures 

longed 
For vision. My life within them taught their 

nerves 
To feel the soft pulsations of the light 
And shape themselves to catch them ; and as 

then 
Beholding objects far, they feign would touch 
And taste them, ardent arms went out to reach 
Them, fingers to fast hold them ; and desire 
Did teach them how to daintily feed ; all which 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 221 

Processes made them slowly, surely grow 
To an infinitude of joyful life. 
And as My pristine plants smelling the sun, 
Forth gave their distilled perfumes and ar- 
rayed 
Themselves in beauty yet more beautiful. 
And sucked darkness out from the sluggish 

air 
And fed it with sweet extracts of the skies ; 
So Man, half-conscious of immortalness, 
Hath blindly felt about him for — himself ! 
And to him hands have grown, and ear and 

eye; 
And out into the atmosphere so dense 
With spirit-darkness he hath prayed for life ; 
Then giving, hath in triple measure got 
More back. Earth, breathing black, exhaling 

white, 
Finds stars — and God ! Nature first taught 

what He 
Of Nazareth commended, saying : Love 
Your enemies, give and it shall be given 
To you ; into your bosoms shall men pour 
Good measure, running over all desire ! 

"Thus 'twas through Love the earth grew 

bright and saw 
The sun, and his clear eye did clearer see 
The earth and find out how to bless it. Then 
Also men saw the greater and lesser lights ; 
And when sometime in bright day silently 



222 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

The moon would move to the meridian, 

And pUxnt herself right straight before his 

face — 
And sun to darkness turn, and moon to blood ■, 
To faith, moons might not blot out suns ; to 

her 
Fine pinhole sight, round moon-eclipsed sun 
Would gleam the mystical Corona ; crown 
She ne'er had known, save for the passing 

darkness ! 
Lo, on the head of The Invisible 
There glows a nobler than imperial Crown 1 

" Thus through the sunshine and the shadow 

grew 
Clearer the light. My Heaven drew closelier 

down 
To Earth ; they looked into each other's eyes ; 
They understood ; they laughed ; they loved ; 

to each 
The other gave ; this, angels ; that one, saints ; 
Since which sweet time earth heavenlier hath 

grown. 
While in what high and mighty sense hath 

heaven 
Been taken up with wider-worldliness ! 
O World ! Fair World ! So crystalline thy 

skies, 
The empyrean spheres surprised catch 
That fragrant crimson of thy love afire ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 223 

Now, open wide, O "World, thy wondering 

eyes, 
And let thy Master's meet thy glad surprise ! 

" At last, at last, hath come the Day, when eye 
To eye My Worlds each other see and know ; 
When end these misconceptions ; each in all, 
And all in each, find correspondence ; when 
My watchmen shall lift up the voice, with th' 

voice 
Together shall they sing ; for they shall see. 
And eye to eye, when th' Lord shall bring in 

Zion ! 
The Lord makes bare His holy arm in th' 

eyes 
Of all the nations ; all the ends of the earth 
Shall see the wide salvation of their God ! 

" Thus spake My Prophets of the elder days, 
And foregleams of Messiah lighted up 
The Babylonian night, and cheering psalmodies 
Awoke the sleeping faith of Israel, 
Over whose self-same knolls should after roll 
Reverberant echoes of the Angel-Song ; 
And thus My Prophet in the wilderness — 
Of barren life, parched hope, and this tied rest. 
Lifted his urgent Voice. ' Repent ! The king- 
dom 
Of Heaven is at hand ! Behold the Lamb, 
The Lamb of God, that taketh away, away, 



224 "THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Away, the sins of the world ! ' On His great 

heart 
He bare them, to His Cross He bare them, 

through 
The ages hath He borne with them, and borne 
Them ; and away, away, He carries them. 
And more and more shall — till the world He 

won 
Shall with the glory of the Lord be filled ! " 

All Thy works do praise Thee, Lord ! The world Thee 
boasts : 

Of Thy kingdom ages tell the story ! 
Holy, holy, holy, art Thou, Lord of Hosts ! 

All the earth is full of Thy great glory ! 

XXIII 

" O, freelier now to their intended ends 
Pass on the so long palsied powers of good. 
It may not be, that homely soil and sky 
Shall jointly such bright world evolve, but 

earth 
And heaven fail in joint attempt. It may 
Not be, that ignorant little atoms all 
Find noble place, but little deeds or great 
Of Man or God never meet use divine ! 

" Niagara's glorious beauty shall be tapped ; 
But, having yet enough, with loud delight 
She gives away a thousand rainbows which 
Tumultuously do grind themselves to might 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 225 

And light, to meet a spindled empire's need ! 
It may not, shall not be, that down the years 
Shall flow the grand and solemn cataract 
Of pains and toils and brave humanities ; 
But span the chasms with no fair rainbow 

sign 
Of sacred covenant, and no momentum 
For use of a divine machinery spare, 
Nor force to drive the enginery of grace, 
To trumpet through her loud electrophones 
The triumphs most magnifical of love. 
And with day shine flush midnight of the 

world ! 

" It may not be, the spirit of the air 

Her slumbering lightnings wakes to winged 

speeds 
O'er threatening crags, through sullen silences 
Of hungry deserts, under curdling seas. 
With news for nations or for humble homes; 
Or spurs them on to mad, terrific leap 
A thousand leagues through the astonished 

ether. 
Heralding hostile fleets, or signalling how 
For some just cause sweet victory was won ; — 
This may not, shall not be, except also 
The Spirit of God, intense in man and all 
Far more than electricities that be 
But playthings in compare, the sovereign 

Source 



226 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Of the great energies that drive wide worlds 
Of worlds OE noiseless wheels awhirl among 
Or space or time's awful infinitudes, 
Shall, in the wise omnisciences of love. 
Thrill with the mj^stic pangs of universes 
Haste to their healing e'en on fleeter feet 
Than speed the flight of stellar gravities ; 
Carry to heaven prayers, and back to earth 
Bring threefold answerings ; fresh impulse 

give 
To each new right or ancient ; harness fast 
The coarser forces of the earth to draw 
My chariots ; work to spiritual forms 
The common clay, and thereinto, as first 
In man, breathe life; flash gospels and re- 
demptions 
O'er gulfs and jungles, and set thunderous 

mountains 
A-ringing with the jubilees of Peace 1 

" I correlate the energies that make 

And mark My world, and work its diverse 

stuffs 
To spiritual goods. Nor let there be 
Too pained disappointment if not quite 
At once My purpose be found out. Recall 
The Beautiful White City by the Sea ! 

"Upon a stretch of land where two seas 
meet, ^^'^ 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 227 

Each rich in commerces and stocked with 

storms, 
On whose gale-tumbled waves strong restless 

souls 
Adventure dangers, wrenching from their 

grasp 
Despite their wounds a million-folded wealth ; 
Fishes and ships and lumbers on the one ; 
The other a huge, heaving human sea 
Into whose depths flow waters from all lands, 
Or sweet or foul, to be churned clean by 

years ; — 
And mighty captains man the mighty ships ; — 
Upon this stretch of land, two seas between, 
Arose a City such as ne'er before 
Had builded been. The science and the art, 
The soul and genius of ancient years 
And modern, all were there. Eight side by 

side, 
Egyptian and Assyrian, Eoman, Greek, 
Stand fraternizing, and each other warm 
Admiring, as though ne'er the Nile, nor Tiber, 
Nor Jordan, nor Euphrates, nor the plains, 
Nor seas, nor yet the great historic Stream 
Of Years, had to the brim been blood-swol- 
len, — 
Fertile their shores with rue and ruin wide ! 
— They kiss each other in thy courteous 

courts, 
O beautiful White City by the Sea ! 



228 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

" Here too the Moderns meet, and pleasedly 
Salute the arts and learnings of past years ; 
Sharpen their wits by theirs ; and praise them- 
selves 
They comprehend them. Art to-day is true 
That wisely copies not their form but soul. 
Here Moderns meet, and with sweet gracious- 

ness 
Their rivals greet ; whether in home-spun 

wares, 
Or gems and jewelries, crops, forestries, 
Paintings and statuaries, morals, laws, 
The latest lores and broadest pansophies. 
The Caravels of Spain that long agone 
Against the protests of Atlantic storms 
Pressed hard their way Columbia to find, 
Salute with fine Castilian courtesy 
The Age that, over many an unknown waste 
Adventuring, finds a continental wealth. 

" My Children born in various zones of faith 
Their brotherhood discover, aptly then 
They give each other hints at study, like 
The merchants in the marts of trade their wares 
Exchanging, and thereby enriching all. 
O, happy they, who on a Pagan breast 
Hang lovingly the peerless Pearl of Price ; 
And happy they who give, and they who take 
Such fragmentary crystals as from years 
Far off have tenderly been cherished ; such 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 229 

A jet's fine setting for this Diamond ! 

O, beautiful, this City by the Sea ! 

Its whiteness like My purity, its breadth 

My charity, its industries be like 

Mine own infinitude of deed. I hail 

Thee ! Beautiful White City by the Sea ! " 

O Beautiful, O Beautiful, White City by the Sea; 
"Where holdeth Art her carnival, and Peace her jubilee ! 
O, beautiful our thought of thee, and beautiful thy thought, 
And beautiful thy purpose all so excellently wrought! 

The Orient and the Occident, the Ancient and the New, 
Bewildered in their gladsomeness, each other's virtues view; 
And Peoples all equipped for war, for long-lived love pre- 
pare, — 
Finding how Right's omnipotent and Goodness debonair! 

Here in a high knight-errantry these friendly foes contest 
For generous Right, and for the one True Cross of Love 

make quest ; 
And all the earth is gathered here the tourney for to see. 
And hail the heroes of the truth, the Truth that makes men 
free. 

That golden-arched Golden Door the chariots must J)ass 

through, 
And all the wondrous wagonries that nations ever knew! 
Wherefore? Through Gate of Golden Goodness must the 

Peoples move 
To see Jehovah's banner over all the world is Love! 

Ah, where your poor knight-errantry, ye envying Wind and 

Fire, 
To make of this rich pageantry of Peace a funeral pyre ? 
Alas, must such the end of thee and of thy triumphs be, 
O beautiful, O beautiful White City by the Sea ? 



230 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Nay, merciful art thou, O Fire ; and kind, unkindly Wind! 
It were not meet to rust and dust such beauty be consigned ; 
Let outward form all perish if the inward life but be 
Eternalized in poetry, and grace and melody ! 

Through all the Peoples, O fair City, runs thy new renown. 
Thy beauty beautifies the province and the stately town ; 
Thy broadness broadens aim and fame of women and men 

who plod, 
And hint the human brotherhood of all the sons of God! 

Ah, many is Thy fair city. Lord, by time's tempestuous sea. 
Each choicely builded age goes down so choicelier builded be; 
O, dear the thought, naught comes to naught, but all so dear 

to Thee 
Worketh for yonder City of God — where there is no more 

sea! 

"If but the world would catch thy sacred 

thought, 
Thou beautiful White City by the Sea, 
That naught of beauty dies, nor worth, nor 

grace ; 
That ever I make all things new ! For this 
Each Old was. N'ow is condensed everness. 
In a child's cup-and-saucer acorns, sweat 
Impatient oaks whose outstretched arms shall 

dare 
The tempest's cannonade. In what here is 
Lie mighty ages — to be born again 
In th' Spirit ! Now, e'en now, what glorious 
New-births of freedom and of faith, of love 
And duty, rights and righteousness, peoples 
And sovereignties, that hint the hasting Dawn ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 231 

Look round ! What immortalities sprang up 
From yonder sepulchre ! And evermore 
Shall ! Godhead gained there, and th' Eter- 
nities ; 
And time and men and things immortalized ! 

" Those giant peaks around whose careless feet 
My darling Javan children timid play, 
Those fuming, darkling, bellowing lava-pots, 
(What aromatic nosegays, abuzz with wasps,) 
Who'd dream of spicing breakfasts with their 

sweets ? 
Those mighty, fire-rock-hurling catapults, 
Who'd dream they'd hurl round to th' antip- 
odes 
Dust-darkness soft dissolving on its way (^^) 
To such vermilioned iridescences 
As make sunsets blush in new ecstasy ? 
Ay, if colossal mountains of great wrongs 
May have their steaming fury, cinder-black. 
Transformed to splendors round the setting 

sun 
'Way cross wide seas ; sure from the fragrant 

hills 
And fruitful mountains of St. Charity — 
The loveliest isle in all the brine of time — 
Shall float, not once an age to suit a spasm. 
But all perennially (just as the Spring 
Can't help it, but must bloom,) shall float, I 
say, 



232 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

With th' wind, or straight against, o'er every 

zone. 
Winged beatitudes, with holy pomp, 
Angelic and seraphic circumstance, 
To glorify the rising and the setting sun 
With glory, and hail the timid trembling 

stars — 
That fear lest they fall down into this dark — 
With greetings sweet as were those angel- 
smiles 
When first they sang their way down hither- 
ward ! " 

The earth ferments to bursting with new mountains ; 

The past is packed with mercies for new years ; 
Our Sinais sound with chime of singing fountains ; 

Glory to God, His peace on earth now nears ! 

Behold, Our Jesu's Kingdom near appears ! 

" ' Our Jesu ! ' Thanks ! My Jesu, too. My 

Children ! 
Forget not ye, nor I, our holy gain 
At His sweet Cross. He conquers by that Sign. 
Your safety and the world's great glory there ; 
For Me what crown, for ye what vesture ! 

See, 
What fine, what dear-bought garmenture of 

love ! " 

The Cross ! Those transverse beams be the first warp 
And w^oof of that dear Garment wherewith Christ 
Would hide man's sin and sorry nakedness ; 
Wherethrough He weaveth all the threads of life 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 233 

And tangled fibres of His history, 

With many a purple, many a scarlet dyed, 

Into a beautiful broad mantle warm, 

The shivering earth to cover with His grace ! 

XXIV 

" ' Our Jesu ! ' Thanks, My Children ; yours, 

and Mine ! 
First though, ere we these final conquests 

view 
Whence glory to God and peace to good-willed 

men; 
First, in this mystic presence lowly kneel, 
Though ye no more the mystic forms see clear 
Of Christ and Cross and Nature in her tears. 
Fast fade they from your vision ! These, in 

pain 
Through angered ages, now with transport 

learn 
The night is over and the day at hand ! 
The spell is past ; the strain and tension 

cease ; 
The darkness lights ; the frigid atoms warm ; 
The icy figures melt away. Lo, Life ! 
For death is swallowed up in victory ! 

" She knows, sweet Nature, how reward is His 
Who on the Tree gave life to death for life. 
Already learning how her Son — and Mine — 
Authority is taking to Himself, 
With Love, fair Empress, seated by His side ; 



234 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Whilst Pride and Self and Sin, like well- 
tamed beasts 
Not cowed but gentled into courtesy, 
Be proud to mind His each benign behest. 
Therefore no more doth Nature bend in woe 
Disconsolate and weep loud tears that He, 
Her noblest born, hath bitterness ; but, glad 
Her whole soul through, and body, bravely 

works 
In her innumerous spheres, complete in Him, 
The head of principalities and powers ; 
All joining in the Paradisal hymn : 
' Worthy the Lamb ! for He was slain for 
us!' 

" Again, behold, My Children, ye of earth. 
And ye from heaven's uplands near the throne; 
Lo, fades, slow fades, the vision of the Cross 
And Crucified ! Death loses grasp on life. 
Paralysis of the horror-stricken air 
Feels new quick pulse and thrill ; and as in 

spring 
The ice-chains melt and let the streams 

a-merry 
Dance down the glens, and through the mead- 
ows sing. 
Nor bird, nor bough, nor nook that gladdens 

not, 
And casts not sunshine back into the sun ; 
So yield these frigid, rigid, spectral forms 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 235 

To hope's soft witcheries, and smile themselves 
Away ! Therefore, if while it lingers, ye 
For whom the strenuous Cross was borne. 
Would, filled with woe for His so deeper woe, 
Ere ye depart, pour forth your tearful thanks ; 
I give ye leave in this impressive scene 
To bow the knee and heart in adoration. 
Think o'er the sins that laid Him low, the 

grace 
That raised ye high, and whisper soft the love 
That stirs to holy supplicating praise. 
Ay, how ye burn with pain your sins should be 
The nails that pinned Him to the cruel Tree ; 
Alas, the thorns, the spear, the mocking jeer, 
May well provoke the penitential tear ! " 

O Poor, tired, wounded Feet, 
Come lame and limping down our street, 
And bring sweet Christ to be our Guest; 
This time we'll give Him rest! 

Ye toil-worn, nail-torn Palms, 
Will ye feel hurt by our scant alms? 
If but our hands that did distress Him 
Might now caress and bless Him! 

O weary vShoulders, say 
How we may lift and help convey 
Some of your loads of care and sin. 
Though we so late begin ! 

O tender, sacred Eyes, 

Shall ye not glow with glad surprise, 

Aa at the Cross ye see us now 

In lowly reverence bow ? 



236 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

O Ears, sore pained to heat 
Our pagan taunt and Jewish jeer, 
List now the lisping love and praise 
We penitent upraise! 

Ye parched Lips that cry : 

' ' Eloi, lama, sabachthaui ? ' ' 

Might we but througli the mad mob burst, 

Might love's tears quench our thirst! 

O steel and sin-pierced Side, 
Whence flows the crimson healing tide 
Of sacramental blood ! We pray thee, 
May weeping thanks repay thee ? 

Great bleeding, broken Heart, 
What art allays thy cruel smart ? 
Ah, freelier than the blood there flows 
Thy mercy for thy foes ? 

Prince of the Thorn-Crowned Brow! 
All hail to Thee! All-sovereign now! 
In healed hands thy sceptre take; 
Love doth rebellion break! 

O, thanks for the riven Side, 
For the Heart not spear but love op'd wide; 
So sin and song, so care and prayer, 
Find welcome entrance there! 

O Eyes, not in death's sleep 
Ye close, our sins and woes ye weep; 
Now open wide, dear Eyes, and see 
Our joyous loyalty. 

Brave Shoulders, wrenched and sore, 
That on the Cross our burdens bore; 
Embraces, kisses, tears would fain 
Soothe down your strain and pain; 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 237 

Ay, soothe the strain and pain 
So ye the fresher might may gain, 
God's solemn years to bear adown 
His battles of renown! 

O strong Arms, wide extended 
As though all worlds were comprehended 
In your embrace; how strong be ye 
To lift to life and liberty! 

O Lips of love athirst 
Now over all the world let burst 
Not weak cry but godlike command; 
All Lands attent shall stand. 

Now, now, O healed Feet, 
Forth to the fight lead on, and fleet! 
And fast we follow in your train, 
Sure victory to gain ! 

Hear, hear, O pained Ears, 
The song that through the years and spheres 
Eings loud and sweet, with Joy complete, 
Christ's triumph, hell's defeat! 

Christ! Christ! From Cross come down ; 
Assume Thy sceptre, wear Thy Crown! 
Earth's welcomes all her tumults drown! 
Hail! Saviour of Renown! 

"Ay, what most sweetest, most rhapsodic 

tears ; 
Mine own I mingle with them — and My 

prayers ! 
My Soul's arms round Thee twine, Immortal 

One; 



238 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

My thanks are Thine, My blessing, and My 

Crown ; 
Sit Thou on My right hand until I make 
Thine enemies the footstool of Thy feet ! 

" Over with tears. My Children ! Victory ! 
Nay, spend not strength in weeping ; nor yet 

much 
In exultation ; time is brief ; work waits. 
Kepent ; but hear His pardon-prayer : 

• Father, 
Forgive them, for they know not what they 

do!' 
Then call to mind how risen Christ did say : 
* Hither thy finger, and behold My hands, 
Hither thy hand, thrust it into M3" side ; 
And be not faithless, but believing ! ' Those 
Sore- wounded hands forefelt the sceptre He 
Wields now ! The thorn-crown pressing piti- 
lessly 
Took measurement of that majestic brow 
To fit therefor immortal diadem 
For Coronation ! How He pardons ! Ay, 
Pardons He My short hiding of My face, 
When earth and stars and sun all glowered on 

Him, 
Since He would sound sin's deep, dark, grim 

abysm ! 
Weep not His dying ; that He came for 1 
Take 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 239 

His mercy ; that offsets His woes ! Love ; that 
Indemnifies ! Then, for yourselves, submit ; 
That's victory ! Serve ; that is luxury ! 
Obey ; and find your freedom ! Therefore 

swing 
Your low notes higher ; mount to tones that 

ring 
And swing with consonances jubilant ! 
The holy challenge fling : * O Death, where is 
Thy sting ? O Grave, where is thy victory ? ' 
— Great Death is swallowed up in Victory ! 

" Yet know ye this ; nor in this world, nor else, 

Is triumph final. Whoso wins a fight 

Hath this advantage ; he hath made his point. 

The foe is weakened, and himself more strong ; 

Cometh thereon fresh impulse, braver heart ; 

Then the immense momentum of his might. 

The Lord Christ was and is and evermore 

Shall Victor be — yet Warrior still ; not once 

His sword and armor rusting, nor His helmet 

Hung in the banquet-hall, insignia 

Of a great Chief in arms and strategies 

Laurelled to some forlorn retiracy. 

* Conquering, and to conquer ' — and thus on, 

World without end ; Amen ; — this the divine 

Device illustrious on His shining shield ! 

" Therefore his loyal legions may make sure 
His victories ne'er cease. They need not fear 



240 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Lest some day courage shall lack chance for 

feats 
Of chivalry ; nor faith, hope, love grow weak 
Through want of bracef ul using ; nor noblest 

souls 
Miss a new nobleness ; nor nations great 
In virtue and in virtuous arms lament 
There be no further fields for conquest. Shall 
I drill My warriors to preeminence 
Of soldiership, then banish them. My best, 
To unheroic uselessness — their arms 
And they to rust in cob webbed towers for 

babes 
To shrink from to their nurses' bosoms ? Nay 
Kot puppets they, but veterans ripe for dan- 
gers ! 
O, up the angel-ladder each step shows 
The ever widening horizon. God 
Is infinite ; therefore shall He ne'er let 
The finite compass all His plans ; nor this — 
Though goodness sweep beyond all present 

laws. 
Nay, though this present measure of His 

might 
Need be immeasurably stretched ; and though 
These stars, that twinkle as though making 

fun 
At human counting of them, be increased 
Till every several atom of them all 
Shall represent some populous Milky "Way ; 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 241 

Nay, should sainthood outgrow high angel- 
hood, 
And child of man redeemed sing psalmodies 
That hush the hearkening heavens to deeper 

praise ; 
Yet, far aloft in rightness and in grace 
As sun the slumberous earth above, shall burn 
Ever transcending triumphings of Love ! 

XXV 

" My Children, hath it sometime pained ye 

sore 
Thinking of Jesu's sudden taking off — 
So young? Threescore, threescore and ten, 

fourscore. 
These were their years who through the 

Orient (^^> 
Sowed far and wide, their unploughed acres 

o'er, 
The choicest grains they knew — unwinnowed 

truths — 
Whence teeming harvests sprang of tared 

wheat ! 
Nor uselessly taught they of honors due 
Parents and forbears and the sovereign State ; 
Better than maddened whirl of passion, mild 
Gautama's subtle selfish selflessness ; 
While Islam's sword, phrenzied at pagan rites. 
Hewed the bright Crescent for the night's new 

moon. 



242 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

And on Arabia's granite carved : ' Allah 

Is One ! ' Grieve ye, these faultful prophets 

had 
Such profuse prodigality of years, 
With wealth and culture, sword and sin 

thrown in ; 
Whilst My sweet Prince of Peace, on mercy 

bent, 
Might have no mercy from the hapless souls 
He suffering sought to save ; nor apt disciples 

have 
Instant to catch His all-illumining thought ? 

" He said : ' I have yet many things to say. 
But now ye cannot bear them ! ' Ah, My 

Children, 
It pains ye sore — that hurried, harried life ; 
Arrived at Jewish manhood, then no more 
For great Messiah's work than three sad 

years ; 
So many as fill out weak babyhood. 
So many as one takes to learn a trade. 
Or get dry-nursed for college in cheap Greek, 
Or be the painter-laureate to some hound ! 
Ay, three years' hindered, hurten ministries 
Of Painter, Poet, Prophet of My Truth ; 
Then cut straight off by shears of envious 

Fate ! 
Life kissed out by a traitor, by His own 
Betrayed out and forsaken out, by course 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 243 

Of human law ruled out, crucified out 

By Rome's rude rule, at a priest's bidding! 

Shame, 
The holy Temple did untemple Him ! 
Shame ! Not in tourney, but a vulgar bout. 
The umpire to the empire was — the Mob I 

" And Nature shuddered at the sudden shock ! 
So much had she to shew Him, Him who her 
Had dowered with beauty and rich increase. 
The vine-engirdled hills that terraced toward 
The skies, lifting their fragrant incense cups 
Of sacramental wine ; the sensitive lakes 
That felt the sacred softness of His steps 
And hushed their roystering ; the desert rocks 
That almost softened into pillows meet 
For that dear head in tearful prayer low-bend- 
ing; 
Olives and oaks that sighed to hear Him 

weep; 
The blind that saw Him and the deaf who 

heard. 
The lamed feet that ran to tell His grace ; 
And a few honest toilers who had learned 
To trust and love Him — then, alas, forsake ! — 
These knew Him, and He knew. But this 

great Globe, 
The only star whereon He made His home, 
He might see little of. O, with what most 
Majestic Hallelujahs might have great 



244 "^HE DIVINE PkOCESSIONJL 

Atlantic greeted Him — or where North Star, 
Or Southern Cross or populous Zodiac rules ! 
Mine islanded Pacific, in what grace 
Of sweetness in her fragrant cradle had 
She rocked Him, in her myriad-jewelled 

hands 
Had tossed Him, Infinite Infant of Days ! 

" Ah, might He Himalaya's Heights have 

reached. 
Supreme Cathedral, with those burnished 

domes, 
Her myriad marble columns carved by storms, 
Her thousand glittering pinnacles that pierce 
Her clouds of daily incense and at night 
Almost rub 'gainst the stars ; its galleries 
Of marbled fire above the marble stairs 
With glacier-praise loud-sounding ; then those 

aisles 
Of emerant veined with gold and diamond ; 
Sweet vales of velvet verdure of Cashmere — 
Up and down which what herds unworship- 

ful! 
'Twere godlike shrine for Son of God to pray ! 

" Nor His to guest with royalty at Kome 
And teach the Caesar how to be a king ; 
Nor His in Athens at her Sages' feet 
To taste philosophy ; nor His from land 
To land to pass, their luscious fruitages 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 245 

Enjoying ; and He pleased that through the 

world 
He had such sweetness sown for humble men ; 
Nor His to see the beauteous form, and catch 
The blush, the languor, the live lustrousness. 
Of flowers that roam over the fragrant hills — 
His golden texts for golden gospellings ! 
I pardon ye, O Woods and Yales and Seas, 
I pardon ye, dear Fruits and Flowers and 

Thorns, 
That when men turned against and I from 

Him, 
And darkness covered all, ye took alarm, 
And disappointment yours ye saw Him not. 
And your hurt heart did anger ye, and all 
Your wanton gravities did pull on Him, 
Tearing so sore those poor alms-laden palms ! 

" Yet grieve not. Earth, bewildered at so short 
A visit from the Master, His entrance 
Into thy heart hath happy passage made 
For Holy Ghost, who taketh things of Christ 
And sheweth them to men. The winter's sun 
But pricketh with the needles of his fire 
The ice-bridge of the river ; the warm flow 
Of waters underneath shall hasten all 
The quivering, quaking ice-floes to the sea. 
Let others through long years their message 

mumble ; 
Or long, or short. He speaks, and it is done ; 



246 THE DiVIME PROCESSIONJL 

Himself the Word and proof, and Love His 

sermon ! 
It takes not long to plant the tiny graft, 
And lo, how soon, how sure, how large the tree 
With power of multiplying, and with fruits 
The world to bless ! There shall an hand- 
ful be 
Of earth upon the mountain-top ; the fruit 
Thereof shall shake like Lebanon. Therefore, 
Earth, have thine undermirth ! Let this 

thought cheer 
And underbear thee, that with Me a day 
Is as a thousand years, and they — a day. 
Only make sure thou live near God, near God ! 

" Planets that fondly form their orbits near 
Their sun, not only win warmer embrace 
And smile, but speedier make their merrier 

round 
Of years ! Let us have pity for the souls 
That on the utmost borders shivering wend. 
Like Neptune, green with envy ; ah, how slow 
Adown the melancholy stream he steers 
His lonesome, darksome w^ay ; the bounding 

earth 
Rearing two generations of her sons — 
Each full four-scored, while one year old his 

cold 
And starvelling child ! Ay, mind thee, though, 

bright Sphere, 



THE DIVINE PkOCESSlONJL 14J 

Thou stray not on far-off Aphelion ways, 
A frigid laggard ! All My stars affirm, 
It does not pay to live so far from God ! 
Therefore, be sure thou live near Him ; and 

like 
A merry planet basking in the sun 
Thy life shall prove bright, fruitful Paradise. 
Through all the years have I been planting new 
And precious seeds of grace such as Eden 
Ne'er knew; they hasten to their ripening. 
Awake, O North wind ; come, O come, thou 

South ; 
Upon My garden blow ; let spices flow ! 
Into My garden. My Beloved, come ; 
Come, come, Beloved, eat My precious fruits ! " 

Jksu, Fair Child of God and man, 

Strange Heir of love and scorn, 
Whose care for us our care foreran, 

Whose Soul our sins hath borne; 

'Twas Thine in all Thy pained life 

Little of earth to know 
Beyond her sin and strain and strife, 

Her wanton want and woe. 

Her woods had churches been for Thee, 

Her hills for pulpits blest, 
Her headstrong winds a melody. 

Her waves Thy cradling rest! 

Might'st Thou have seen, raight'st Thou have known 

This Earth from east to west! 
Might she have known she was Thine own 

For whom Thy gracious quest! 



248 THE DIFINE PROCESSIONAL 

Now to Thy rightful conquests haste, 

Of worlds without, within; 
Enrich with peace our wildest waste, 

Grow blessing from our sin. 

Haste, Master! Haste Thee to Thy crown; 

Creation groans for Thee; 
Her shame convert to glad renown, 

Her moans to minstrelsy. 

Jesu! Thy rightful empire build 

O'er all the land and sea, 
Till every heart be filled and thrilled 

With loyal love of Thee! 

Then through the myriad centuries prove 

More and more immanent still; 
All things below, like all above, 

God's incarnated will! 

" ' Ay, I come quickly ! ' saith My Christ. 

' Amen ! 
Even so, come. Lord Jesus ! ' cries the Earth. 
My benediction on ye both ! The grace 
Of God the Father on ye all 1 Amen. 

XXVI 

" O World, fair World, O World of Mine ; be- 
hold. 
He comes again with brave design and grace 
Divine for all the sons of men. Once more 
Great Christ is born. New angels into new 
Clouds fling their new acclaim ; new shep- 
herds hear 
Them ; and new sages from the newer East 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 249 

Pilgrim atross the wondering deserts wide, 
Their golden learnings laying at His feet, 
Antique frankincensed praise, and prayers 

whose myrrh 
Doth signify the bitterness of tears ! 
These at His crib they lay, and worship Him. 
And Gentiles to His light shall come ; and 

kings — 
Ay, to the Brightness of His Rising — Kings ! 

" Such Day is visibly here ; and kings be here. 
And queens, with father-love and mother-love 
To nurse and raise Him to His rightful throne 
Right worthily, as fits a worthy monarch, 
No kinglet He ; nor kinglets they, and queen- 
lets ; 
But genuine Sovereigns — as false titles read 
Of sceptred Brigands — ' by the grace of 

God!' 
Thrones theirs, and wide domains, and dia- 
dems 
"With nobler jewelries than from dark mines 
And silvery seas rise to compete with stars ; 
And conquests theirs that shame and dwarf 
The glory of the managers of war ! 
Real lords and kings be they, under Him who 
Thereby is King of Kings and Lord of Lords ! 

" Such kings be they who for the Master's 
sake 



250 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Prove masters of themselves, by gentleness 
Be strong, by giving gain, servants of God 
And opulent heirs of Christ's Beatitudes. 
The world is rich in kingdoms and in kings. 
Such be by a divine right kings and queens 
As in sweet homes rear princes for My courts ; 
Such as, like Pharaoh's princely daughter, find 
Among neglected bulrushes a waif 
And in the very palace of their love 
Train him to reverend priestliness to lead 
Mine own elect through frighted, frightening 

deserts 
Into the land of fruitful peace. And such 
Be they who in a genuine knightship shield 
Some sweet fresh maiden truth the bigots put 
Their brutal hands on, and gowned sciolists 
Anatomize to death ; or a heaven-born cause 
Espouse, — misunderstood, maligned, and nailed 
To torture on a vulgar cross ; who 'neath 
Its tragic shadows kneel, and kiss and bear 
Away the mangled form, to love it back 
To resurrection and conquests benign 
That hint a hasting Messianic reign ! 

" And such be they who on their mission holy 
Enter the dragoned caverns of the globe, 
Their monsters face and shame to friendliness, 
Play with the dark and tickle it to smiling 
Till its bright laughter stirs the world to light- 
ness; 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 251 

In weeds find flowers, and healings in the 

poisons, 
Turn the rude jangling discords into praise, 
And move the sullen earth to mirth, knowing 
The stars benignly look and sweetly in her 

face. 
Earth hath been sick and lonely, a cast-off 
Among the spheres ; but though it hath been 

lost, 
Lost, sadly lost, as in a rubbish-loft. 
Its finding now is near ! Hear ye My words ; 
Though it hath lien among the pots, yet shall 
It be as wings of a dove covered with silver, 
Its dusted pinions flush with yellow gold ! 
— Ay, such My kings as help Me find lost 

worlds. 

" Find, find Me worlds, My Kings, My Queens ! 

Find worlds 
That wander in a distant maze ! Find worlds 
For worlds of love My wandering wards 

among ! 
Find for Me worlds that hide in idling play, 
Or infant fears adown the atoms' way ! 
Ay, 'mong the ethers in eternal space. 
Disporting, dancing, bounding in the chase. 
Find, find Me quick, the elfin spirits bright 
That swing the countless torches of the night 
Around the patient progress of the moon. 
And dash the dayshine down into the noon ! 



252 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

" Ay, find Me worlds where I interiorly 
And godlikely may rule. These turned I oflf 
From My bare finger-tips, and by these same 
I bless them. Now from My heart-tips, nay, 

but 
From deepest fountains of My soul I pray 
To bless ! Find, find Me worlds whereinto I 
The essences and vital energies 
May pour, that quicken and upspring and fair 
Surprise themselves into eternals ! Find 
Me worlds whose palpitating arteries 
I may fill full with such rich crimson love 
As spilled itself heart-hot on Calvary's 

breast ! 
— Their very void invites My gracious fullness. 

"Find Me the Wealths that stagger 'neath 

their cares, 
"With emptiness that comes of surfeit pained ; 
Gaunt Wealths, that at the doors of Poverties 
Stand, hat in hand, a-begging, or in debt 
To labor, and their obligations deem 
To cancel by loud public charities ; 
So straitened — they besiege the very laws 
To shew them mercy, and conspire 
Great wars to help them market off their 

wares ! 
Ah, bring them Me ! And I will loose their 

bands. 
Undo their heavy burdens, let th' oppressed 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 253 

Go free 1 O, this My fast ! Come unto Me, 
All ye that labor with your twinging pride, 
And are with unwon tributes heavy-laden. 
And I will give you rest ! And take My yoke, 
And learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly 
Of heart. And ye shall find rest to your 

souls ! 
My yoke is easy, and My burden light. 
O, if into your penury might flow 
His metal, who for your sakes made Him poor, 
That through His poverty ye might be rich ! 
— Eich, therefore, be ! Coin gold from alms ! 
The gardens of the soul, else sterile, win 
Heaven's grateful tear-storms through fertil- 
ities. 
The generous clouds that Afric's burning sands 
Repel, water the Mediterranean, 
Make Italy, and dome the Alps with glory ! 

" Ay, to your gilded garrets get, and fling - 
Your surplus mantles merrily o'er My poor. 
Compel the world to bless you with its thanks ; 
Not for the praise's sake, but My dear world's. 
Be just to justice, right toward every right, 
The wrong redeem, and make My weaklings 

strong ; 
Toward God be godlike, manly toward all 

men ; 
Your love shall make your very riches rich, 
And faithless fasts celestial festivals 1 " 



254 "THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

XXYII 

"O, what to Me were worth My sovereign 

powers 
Save I might use them ? What to Me to own 
One vast eternal void, except to charge 
It with My vigors ? What, My gravities 
That I impose upon broad-shouldered spheres, 
Which else would crush Me ? What, electric 

fires 
That else would burn and blister Me; My 

stores 
Of light, that else would blind ; My musics. 
That else wise would in Mine own helpless soul 
Burst into endless echoes tunelessly ; 
My love, that else would die, not having aught 
To feed on, or to feed ; Mine arms of might. 
That would aweary grow and sore, striking 
With infinite force out upon vacancy ? 
What these to Me, inhabiting eternity, 
With open-mouthed vacuity around ? 
'T would craze a God ! 

" Ay, what's a God for ? Merely 
To sit in state ? To be an Ornament, 
Or Wonder? or perchance a Fright ? or just 
To enjoy Nirvana ? Just to say : ' I am ' ? 
Nay, nay ! I am ! but not an All in nought, 
Nor Naught in all ; but All in All supreme, 
Might of all mights. Light of all lights, the 
Love 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 255 

Of love, the Harmony of harmonies ! 
Grace ! Grace to help in every time of need ; 
This is My fond and fundamental Creed ! 
Rather would I some gentle Christian be, 
Than stately, heartless, useless Deity I 

" 0, as for Me, I be an Heretic — 
Measured by standards of the sycophants 
Who laud or crouch, who would hurrah or 

damn, 
As custom happened, or as they supposed 
An infinite Tyrant would impose. For Me, 
I fling such worthless honors to the winds, — 
The compliments of cowards, flatteries 
Of fools, the smoking incense hiding Me 
From sight of My poor children, the proud 

pomp 
Of sumptuous worship ! What for these care I, 
With countless choirs of fervid firmaments 
Pavilioned round ? If men be at their 

prayers, 
And some hurt babe cries on the street, hy all 
Means let them quit My presence to attend 
That babe ; nay, they do quit Me not ; I speed 
With them and hear them on their way. I 

say. 
True love is prayer ! Nor better can they 

pray. 
Worse were a godless God than a godless 

man — 



256 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Infinite Sultan on blood-stained divan ! 
Nay, let Me, rather, simple Christian be, 
Than heartless, helpless, hopeless Deity ! 

" This My religion ; nay, for Me there may 
None other be. I worship God, not self ; 
No, though Self be infinite Hierarch ! 
May parents sin less faultily than babes ? 
For Me to worship infinite Self were right 
No more than for Earth's willful little selves ; 
Nor Self I worship, but true God, and Him 
I yield to, just like Jesus Christ, My Son ; 
The conscious, infinite, beneficent, 
Non-egoistic Ego of the World — 
Than whom none other so great Duty bears ! 
Therefore at Love's own sacred Altar do 
I call on all true worshippers with Me 
To kneel, and prayers uplift, and alms to 

give. 
And consecrations make of choicest alls ; 
And I loud strike the note of praise for them 
To join in and melodiously sing. 
Let all unto My banqueting-house move 
Whose welcoming banner over all is Love ! 

" Come, come, poor Earth ; I love thee ; I 

bless thee ; 
Thy love with My love mingles ; let us pray ! 
So Love shall hear Love's prayers, and answer 

soon. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL is-j 

Come, come, poor Earth, with all My thirsts, 

behold. 
With thirst I thirst for thee. Come, bring 

thy sires 
And sons, thy fasts and feasts, thy poverties 
That faint before the Church's door ; thy 

prides 
That hear them not while themselves cry for 

more. 
Bring Me the buoyant hopes, the dire despairs 
That shudder lest My tender hand may hurt. 
Bring thy wan woes that cannot live, nor die ; 
Bring thy coarse envies, all thy hates insane ; 
Bring all thy coward wars, that screen them- 
selves 
Behind impregnable breastworks of some 
"Well-engineered phrase of diplomacy 
Surprising to the pagan gods ! Bring then 
All that thou hast of promise ; all thine alms 
Humane, thy manly pressing toward the good, 
Thy prayers in many a tongue untutored 

prayed ; 
I feel their fervor ; My heart their heart hears. 
Thy big ambitions for this New Age bring — 
Proud and exultant as it springs aloft 
To do what centuries had not dared to pray ! 

" My Nations, O My Nations, marvel not ; 
Puissant, brave, ay, Christian ! One war 
more I 



258 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

One straight and sturdy struggle ; nor for fame, 
Nor vengeance, nor your rights. Yet crim- 
soning let 
It be ! Let the seas feel your courage so 
In mighty tidal waves their onsets turn 
And flee. Thunders shall stand aghast and 

speechless I 
The mountains at your presence shall flow 

down ! 
Ay, not that ye shove out red murders 'mongst 
The peoples terrified ; this battle be 
The Lord's ! Proud, deathful, sterile wars not 

Mine! 
Alas, alas, My Nations, that when ye 
Have slain your millions, millions more must 

die 
Through war's foul stench My peoples poison- 
ing ; 
Years craped in mourning o'er their dead ! 

Wo's Me, 
Reluctant justice must be forced to wraths, 
And love to laws and tasks unlovable ! " 

With wrath in mercy and mercy in wrath 
Jehovah cradleth His great wide swath 
Through rank-grown wrongs to carve a path 
To the freedoms He for His people hath. 

Far over the oceans travel] eth He 
In majesty of cannonry, 
And by loud earthquakes out at sea 
Lifts islands to light and liberty. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 259 

And boastful nations of ancient fame 
That thwart His will He sinks to shame ; 
And — hinder who will, 'tis just the same — 
The rights of Right He will maintain proclaim. 

When He arise th for the right 
Night flames effulgent with strange light, 
And weakness grows to a terrible might, 
And the finite smacks of the infinite ! 

But the years are weary with wear and tear 
Of bootless battles so everywhere; 
Great God! how bold be we who dare 
Thy judgments just! O Lord, us spare! 

O, happy the peoples that glad obey, 
And perish they who say Him, Nay! 
O World! Great World! His mercy pray; 
Make sure thou follow Him straightway. 

Nay, let not men with men contend. 
But men for men, like friend for friend ; 
And down to Hell send hell, and bend 
Their wrath to ruth, world without end! 



E'en now, high up the spires of time 
The wakeful watchers eager climb ; 
Hark! how the bells in rapture-rhyme 
Chime out Love's victories sublime! 

" Ay, to Love's more inviting victories 
I call. Away, My Nations, quick away 
With prides and jealousies and blows whose 

fierce 
Kebounds hurt deeper than your foes' re- 
venges. 



26o THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

Nature is shocked at all your cruel feuds ; 
The sensitive air quivers and cries for pain 
At war's harsh thunders ; she flies them hurt- 
ling 
Into the skies ; frightened My heavens hear 
Such clanging uproar as I never made 
Them for; and hurl them howling, pounding, 

down 
On pointed peaks of loud protesting moun- 
tains ; 
In very crucifixions clamorous 
With mutual upbraidings ; dead and still 
At last in the deep dungeons of the dark ! 
Not for such cries sprang I these arching 

skies. 
O, rather, far, for holy cadences 
That softly undulate like angels' wings, 
Paeans of joy, tried first in heaven, then 
Found meet to train ye in your singing here. 
Hark, how My seraphs soothe the suffering 

air, 
Swinging incensed musics up the flights 
Of stars. Let heaven rejoice ; let earth be 
glad ! 

" Haste ye, My Nations, to such wars as laurel 
Conquered and conquering, both, with victory. 
Beaten at the outset they who wrongly win ! 
Let Love lead forth your legions fast a-field 
To seize her triumphs for the Prince of Peace. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 261 

Flash through the mists the search-light of 
your mercy ; 

Train on your foes your heavy cannonries, 

Bombarding them with red-hot charities ; 

Outwit by honest strategies of grace ; 

Avenge proud hate with unrelenting love ! 

— What if those foes turn allies to the Christ ? 

What if among them Mine elect shall be ? 

Touch Mine anointed not, nor prophets harm ! 

O, one Love for one wide Humanity ; 

One Crest, one Christ, one Cross, one Com- 
monwealth ! 

iVbn, ministrari, as but fools insist ; 

Sed ministrare^ as saith Christian Christ ! 

" The paradoxes of His kingdom test, 

Which fit alike for nations and for men. 

Spending your strength upon the weak, grow 
strong ; 

Helping the poor to plenty, be ye rich ; 

Lifting the lowly, spring ye straight and tall ; 

Lead My poor blind, and find your own bright 
way; 

Teach lisping babes, and learn My deeper wis- 
doms ; 

If for your feeding ye best crops would raise. 

In soiled souls and quagmire lives plant good ; 

Unloose men's heavy burdens, yours fall off, 

Or courage makes their carriage a pleasantry ; 

^ "Not to be ministered unto, but to minister." 



262 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 

Yet love ye for love's sake and not your own, 
Lest selfish sweetness soon ferment to sour. 
To heaven would rise ? From hell lift dreaded 

foe ; 
And gain fine training for fresh feats at 

arms. 
"Who taketh not the poorest pagan's part 
Let him beware the pagan in his heart. 
Love, love is the fulfilling of the law. 
Angels, like kites, might fall, not balanced by 
Un winged souls to pull upon their flight ! 
To heave is literal root and growth of heaven. 
O Men ! O Nations ! Do ye feel the draw 
Of sunken peoples on your vaulting heights ? 
The lowly lift ; let love fulfill her law ; 
Upswing with clinging wards to holier heights ! 

"Be this mind in you which in Jesu was, 
Who, on equality with God, emptied 
Himself, and took a servant's form, and in 
The likeness and the fashion of a man 
Was made, obedient unto death, even 
Death on the Cross ; wherefore highly did 

God 
Exalt Him, named Him all great names above ; 
That at the Name of Jesu every knee 
Should bow, in heaven and earth and under 

earth. 
And every tongue confess that Jesu Christ 
Is Lord, unto the glory of God, the Father. 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 263 

" Therefore, at worthier business be than that 

Of idly questioning the portents, when 

Shall Jesu come ? how ? where ? and when, O 

when, 
The thousand years of peace ? My kingdom 

shall 
Not come with observation. If one say, 
' Lo, here is Christ ' ; or, ' There ' ; believe it 

not; 
"Within you is the kingdom of the Lord. 
As Jesu once was seen to heaven to go. 
So in like manner shall ye see Him come. 
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, 
Nor angels ; nor did Son of Man in th' zone 
Of human life know when ; only the Father. 
"Watch, lest ye know not when the Master 

come ; 
Yet stand ye not, into the heavens agaze ; 
Leave signs and days and Comings with the 

Lord ; 
The kingdom, ay, the very King's within. 
Lift up your heads, ye Gates, e'en lift them up ; 
The King, the King of glory shall come in ! 

XXVIII 

" Let every gate swing open to the King ! 

O, dear to Me the very weaknesses 

That give My mercy opportunity. 

Dear to sweet Jesu this woe-world, that He 

Might plant His mighty heart in, so therefrom 



264 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

As from a garden rich with jungle mire 
His heart-seed might to plenteous fruitage 
grow. 

" By what arch tricks Love wins her way ! 

'Tis said, 
'Night is defined by darkness, death by 

dust.' (^) 
Yet on the ebon curtains of the night 
Rich clusters of world-flashing stars I pin. 
And, dust ? Dust also will I find use for ; (^') 
And that aside from fields whose chemistries 
Work miracles for homes of rich and poor. 
O, 'tis the very dust, from travelled roads. 
From unswept alleys, sooty chimneys, woods 
Afire and ashen with big frights, tall flues 
That steam their smoking blackness 'gainst 

white skies. 
Dust the brusque cyclones whip from sterile 

plains, — 
'Tis dust wherefor My sovereign wit hath use. 
'Tis dust that in the sky, or in the chamber 
Where all the home-loves gather, intercepts 
The sunbeams fierce and makes them soft 

diffuse 
(For else sharp slants of blinding bright) 
Through humble hermitage or troubled cloud 
Those toned tints that hint of home and 

heaven. 
'Tis just the dusty atoms that do catch 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 265 

The raindrops on their tiny palms, and weave 
Rainbows to ribbon earth's steep stairs to 

God; 
Ay, 'tis plain dust that gathers radiant clouds, 
Groups them in mighty grandeurs in the skies. 
Heads off the torrents and tornadoes wild, 
Holds back the too tumultuous thunderbolts, 
And bathes with blessings of the gentler rains 
The fields that raise thank-harvests to their 

Lord! 

" Bring, bring Me quick, nor crooning o'er the 

past, 
Nor counting off weird cabalistic years, 
Nor 'mong My startled prophecies romancing, 
Nor fearing lest your hopes too hopeful be. 
Or faith seem overgrasping after good ; 
Bring, bring Me quick what hath no use but 

ill — 
What I may try My gracious cleverness at, — 
Black dark a-quiver with imprisoned light. 
Great famines bursting with their bread and 

wine. 
Graves cradling infant immortalities ! 
Where sin aboundeth grace shall more abound. 
The pagan idols have this merit, that. 
So gross, so impious, they have carved been 
From purest marbles, which fair stuff I take, 
And, paring down the caricatures, recarve 
Into a noble manly godlikeness. 



266 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

" When My brave Leonardo would portray <"J 
The Holy Supper where the Christ last sat 
With His disciples sad, breaking the bread 
For broken hearts to eat, and pouring wine 
That symbolled love divine; where might He 

find 
The marvellous features that should match the 

Master's ; 
And, easier task, so human followers ? 
Ay, where but in the markets and faubourgs 
Where grouped the tricksy knaves and jocose 

idlers, 
Milano's dainty dilletantes in vice. 
Villains in velvet, keen stiletto-e3^ed, 
KufRans to hire for murder while the soft 
Sweet bells were summoning to the Sacra- 
ment ? 
So strolled he quaint Milano's stalls among 
For facial contrasts hinting likenesses. 
Coarse brutal brows that scowled their subtle 

smile. 
Affections scalding into jealousies. 
Intrigues that snuffed of wisdoms, heart-hurt 

hates. 
Lawless exaggerations of some grace 
That gave all else eccentric viciousness. 

" Thence to his studio this man, to put 
Into each portrait some hard fact, to which 
Yet harder might he add, whereby at length 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 267 

All harmonized into surprised forms 
Of Saint-Apostles ! Then from hornier quarries 
Was reverently wrought the Master's face! 
All this, just as from fractured gems pupils 
In art would cast away in scorn, masters 
Will make magnificent mosaics, to place 
Upon the walls of some renowned cathedral. 
So bring, bring Me, the shattered, spoiled forms 
Of good, the weird grotesquenesses of earth, 
The maimed, the gaunt, the lost humanities; 
And on them shall My sacred artists work ; 
And on the walls of My Cathedral shall 
I hang immortal frescoes and mosaics 
Of saints, apostles, martyrs, very Christ, — 
Again all at the Blessed Banquet met ! 

" O, if I set diamonds in raindrops, if 
On the dark canvas of dissolving clouds 
I paint the radiant rainbow, sacred sign 
Of covenanted love, how shall I not 
My best art use painting My children's por- 
traits, 
To hang high up My chambers in the sky ! 
O, bring Me now the sombre storms of tears 
For Me to paint My bow of promise on ; 
Bring Me sore fragmented ambitions, dread 
Despairs, poor heartless hearts, wrecks, ruins, 

wraths. 
Rock-hearts that sins and tyrannies have 
ground, 



268 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

The flouted refuse of these diamond-pits ! 

O Men, Times, Angels! Help Me these to 

shape 
For reverent use, and then with love's finesse 
Portray new guests at this dear Sacrament ! 
This do ye in remembrance oft of Me. 

" Haste, haste ye on, My gentle Miracles ! 
Ah, some day one shall learn the alchemy 
Whereby pain leaps to pleasure. He shall 

teach 
Magnetic currents how to thrill torture 
With bliss ecstatic, fusing the dark blood 
With such Nepenthen waters as defy 
Ardenne to spoil earth's homely quietage. 
Bring Me the pains that pant for sure sur- 
cease, 
The tired and torturing travails of the poor. 
Dear faiths that stagger at the temple-gates 
'Midst surpliced prides and cloistered unbe- 
liefs, 
The fretted hopes of noble souls that wait 
For truths to trust and generous deeds to do. 

" Bring Me the feeble forest-folk, such as 
Along the Congo's dolorous sources feel 
But feeblest pulse of humble huraanhood ; 
Bring such as in the savage North tone up 
Their hardy grit in storms, and whet their 
wits 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONJL 269 

On rasping glaciers, and hear My voice among 
The rattling battles of the thunder-skies ; 
Ay, bring Me these My backward sons and 

daughters 
Whom I will train into this Christian age. 
I will not that in these impelling times, 
Impatient of the isthmuses, these fare (^^) 
Far round the age-long continental coasts ; 
But, shunning wreck and dangers of delays. 
Course right through from Pelusium to Suez ! 
Therefore bring Me My nursling nations quick 
Whom I to Christlike manhood quick may 

rear; 
So shall the olden prophecies fulfill : ^^^ 
' Before she travailed she brought forth ; be- 
fore 
Her pain a child was given her. Who hath 
Heard such a thing ? Such who hath seen? 
A land born in one day ? Hear Me ! Shall I 
To the birth bring, and not cause to bring 

forth ? 
The whole creation travaileth in pain 
Together until now ! Ourselves also ! 
Nations shall on their bosoms bear My sons, 
My daughters on their shoulders ; kings shall 

be 
Their nursing fathers, and their mothers 

queens.' 
Kings ! Queens ! Bring Me the babes and 

sucklings 



270 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

That in the wildernesses cry, and stretch 
Their starved arms into the dark. As ye 
Would live, take these and nurse them up for 
Me! 

" Who knoweth but to such of different lands 

And bloods new sense of spiritual truths 

I may impart ? What if their nerves of soul 

Be keenlier sensitive to certain pains 

Of falseness ? What if some color-blindness, 

theirs 
Or yours, should start dispute about My rain- 
bows 
Which I meant as the covenant sign of peace ? 
What if among them Kings should rise, to 

rule 
In some unhackneyed righteousness ; or what 
If Prophets of a keener visioning 
And straighter speech ; or some great Prophet- 
Priests 
With sacrifice and worship sacreder, 
With psalms and hymns and spiritual songs 
So far above or different from the common 
That fault be found with too rich incense- 
cloud. 
As though obscuring God, and darkening 
day? 

" Nay, fly far fast such unbelieving faiths. 
Such impious piety, such unloving love ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 271 

Nay, nay, there may not be delay. Not more 
An hungered is the seed for earth than earth 
For seed ; not more the parched prairies cry 
For water than the heavens thunderously 
That all their windows may be opened wide. 
The better spirit of this time reads right 
The message of My Son. ^ Go ye to all 
The world, and preach the Gospel to the 

whole 
Creation.' And the stupid brutes do feel 
That man is kindlier to man — and them. 
And science and philosophy and art, 
And laws and labors, affluence and wants. 
All know it ; and proud wars like cowards 

flee. 
My new Day breaks and shadows flee away. 
As through the world Love goes a-gospel- 

ling! 

XXIX 

" Ay, through the world Love goes a-gospelling 
"With eyes bent low to search each earthly 

need, 
With eyes uplift expectant of the Christ ; 
And the stars hear her on her singing way 
Until they melt into the golden day 
Find, find Me worlds, whether in stellar wastes 
Or wider, weirder wastes of human need ; 
Lo, thither Love with eagle-winged hastes 
And ravishing expectances shall speed ! 



272 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

" Find, find Me now, to-night, some wayward 

world 
Whose wearied worship flits on wounded 

wing — 
Her sightless songs among laments astray ; 
Some day she may of all My choristers 
The sweetest, strongest, angelist minstrel be ! 

"Find, find Me worlds into whose dark and 

doom 
I may the ripened light and fire of all 
Past ages pour, making them gleam with 

glory. 
Ay, bring Me, haste Me, virtuous, virile years 
'Gainst strife astrife, alove with love, lordly 
Impatient for the passing of the wrong ; 
Right knightly years of old hearthsome 

noblesse 
With Virgin Love's rare favor on their breasts, 
Who pure in heart the infidels shall o'ercome, 
And find the long elusive Holy Grail 
Angels have hid from sacrilegious search ; 
Its sacramental blood as vital as 
That poisoned afternoon when Joseph prest 
The conscious bowl to Jesu's bleeding breast I 

" Bring, bring Me worlds whose pallid lips in 

haste 
Shall taste the wine of love from chalice 

chaste ! 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 273 

" Ay, bring Me Years that knightlily shall find 

It, rescue it, drink deep of it, and pass 

It reverent round ; then speeding to their 

tryst. 
Swear fealty to our Sir Knight Jesu Christ ! 
Is not this the Communion of the Blood 
Of Christ ? What saith He ? * Drink ye aU 

of it ! ' 
— That multitudinous plural ! ^^^ Drink ye, 

All! 
Ye All ; Plural of excellence ! (-«) Ye All ! 

" Thou, Earth, a vessel of the Lord shalt be, 
Large Holy Grail, holding in noble trust 
The precious Blood, the very wine of love 
That from the suffering Saviour's bosom 

flowed ! 
Some great Day, thou, — circling the heavens 

round 
From arch to arch, — the peopled worlds, awe- 
struck 
At thy conspicuous eminence of grace. 
Shall touch thine outer rim, the virtue taste. 
And thrill with th' wondrous story of the 

Cross ; 
And drink in memory of Jesu ! Earth ! 
My Chalice choice, My eucharistic Cup ! 
Fill thee with wine to sumptuous overflow ; 
Thou, too, art Cup of Blessing which I bless ! 
See that for all thou fill thee to the brim 



274 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

In love's most sweet remembrances of Him ! 
— I, too, do dream ! And sun and moon afar 
Obeisance make to Him, — and startled star !" 

— Ceased now the Voice ! — And whether bowed 

we low, 
Or stood upgazing ; and or short or long 
The reverent adoring — we know not, 
Nor knew ; for in such concourse heavenly 
Time is and is not long nor short. We seemed 
To know what meant: "Time is no more." 

Then rose 
From our companions rhapsody supreme ; 
As shone, through all the shining round, their 

faces 
And forms beatitudinously holy ! 

Staks on the watch-towers of infinite height, 
Blither and brighter because of the night, 
Flush with fresh lustre and thrill with new joy; 
Songs of Redemption your praises employ 1 

Sing we a weird and a mystical song ? 
Have ye no word for such love in your tongue ? 
Hasten your speed to these far-away skies 
Whither the Earth with her love-burden hies. 

Here shall ye meet the strange orb that hath sprung 
Sin and its perils and terrors among, 
Risking to roam in the darkness of space. 
Wandering far from the Lord and His grace ; 

Wandering star that no star may deliver 
From reserved blackness of darkness forever I — 
Lo, though, the Sun hath arisen upon her; 
He hath away with her guilt and dishonor I 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL z-js 

Hither swift journey, and hither your gaze ; 
See in Earth's cradle the Infant of Days ; 
Here in the form of a Servant doth hide 
One in whom manhood and godhood reside ! 

Hither haste, all ye most mightiest Spheres, 
Hither with love and with pity and tears ; 
Lowly the life of the dear Son of God, 
Lowly and lonely the path He hath trod. 

Smitten with sorrow for sinners below, 
Smitten by sinners a sorrowful blow,- 
Under dark olives where ye might not see. 
Under woe-weight of the world bended He 1 

Worth all the wealth of the world is the love 
That itself valueth all worlds above ; 
For life of Love His own Ufe counts He loss ; 
Life for the world is His wage on the Cross. 

Stars of the Morning, and Stars of the Night, 
Hither your hasting and rapturous flight ; 
Learn the glad Story, and taste the rich Love 1 
Speed the Evangel through abysses above 1 



Fill thee with Wine, Eucharistical Cup I 
Earth, at thy brim worlds of worlds thirst to sup I 
Thou, Elect Sphere where the Saviour hath trod, 
Fill thee with measurele.ss measures of God 1 



As thus up toward the stars their song they 

threw 
Who thence on singing wing had hither flown, 
Upon their features such seraphic light 
We saw, as else in long reserve is held 
Till when we mortals shall the Lord behold, 
And to His likeness wake. Yanished at once 



276 THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 

All traces of the spectral scene around ; 
Nature at rest ; and that sore wounded spot 
Sweet healed of its supernal tragicness ! 

" Farewell ! " said they who homeward now 

would go ? 
" Farewell ! " said we who homeward now 

must turn ? 
Too high our conference, too blessed such 
Prophetic oracles, too deep engrossed 
Their thought and ours in holy hopes, to weep 
In sad good-byes ! Upward and upward 

swung 
They like embodied musics, and sang down 
Their love ; while upward gazed we stedfastly, 
Till clouds of light received them from our 

sight. 
Then minded we our homeward way to wend 
Where humble tasks in Jesu's Name invite ; 
— Till He shall lead us to our Olivet. 

Meanwhile, as foretime it had strange be- 

happed 
In that impressive presence of the Cross, 
When heard we in most deep-awed ecstasy 
Our star-born friends interpretation give 
Of these strange prodegies ; so now again, 
Save with a far exceeding antheming, 
A song burst forth men might attempt in 

vain I 



THE DIVINE PROCESSIONAL 277 

Some angels must have joined them from the 

sky, 
And myriad starry strangers joined their 

choir ; 
Such rich tumult of multitudinous praise, 
As though from all the radiant spheres our 

guests 
Had visited, had floated hither strains 
Of their selectest melodies ; as though 
The ancient songs of God's great Morning 

Stars 
Had fallen in pieces and come quivering down, 
A shower of shining, singing meteors ! 



Notes 



1. p. 9. Under this title, The Wonder-Cross: Imma- 
nence, a portion of the beginning of this poem was read some 
years ago at a general convention of the Delta Upsilon Col- 
lege Fraternities, held at Colby University, Waterville, Me., 
which was ''printed but not published " in the Delta Upsilon 
Magazine. 

2. p. 40. See in Farrar's Life of Christ, chapter one, ex- 
tract from the Gospel of St. James, known as the Protevan- 
gelium, chapter eighteen, this ancient rhapsodic concept of 
Nature's sacred hush at Jesus' birth. 

3. p. 46. A pathetic ancient tradition of the woods of the 
Cross. 

4. pp. 59 and 123, etc. For further spiritual treatment, 
of the unconscious interpenetrativeness of different exist- 
ences, whether of matter, or spirit, or somewhat partaking 
of either, or of aught else, see the author's Beliques of the 
Christ, p. 52, etc. 

5. pp. 76 and 107. These quotations from Prof. Tayler 
Lewis's admirable translation of Job, in Lange's Com- 
mentary. 

6. p. 80. The swing of the Poles of the Earth during 
the 25,868 years of the last full Procession of the Equinox 
brought the Southern Cross into view even of Great Britain, 
in a comparatively recent ice age. Owing to the carbonic 
acid in the air at a far distant era, the stars were invisible. 
It was clarified by the vegetation absorbing carbon and 
breathing out oxygen. 

279 



28o NOTES 

7. p. 98. Probably the temporary stars that surprise us 
with their appearance, and then their increasing and de- 
creasing luminousness, are cooled, dead worlds, sometimes 
colliding, or sometimes dashing into realms of nebulae, or 
star-dust; the tremendous compression evolving light. 

8. p. 105. "The range of audible sounds comprises 
eleven octaves, of musical sounds about seven ; the range of 
visible light is less than one octave; the range of aesthetic 
color may be less as it is with sound; the limits of music 
and sound together lie between forty and 4,000 vibrations 
in a second, while the limits of visible light lie between 
four hundred and sixty million millions, and eighty mil- 
lion millions in a second."— Wm. Schooling on "Color- 
Music," in "X/X Century" reprinted in Litt. Living 
Age, Aug. 10, 1895. He also suggests that on the fact 
that some sensitive natures are affected by color as others 
by music, a new instrument might be invented, which, 
with a keyboard of notes to play the shades of color, 
and with a pedal to alter the intensity of light, a bit of color- 
music may be produced. Meanwhile, the Rev. Alan S. 
Hawkesworth, ( Westminster Review, Oct. 1902, p. 387), writes 
that "the telephone turns sounds into magnetic and electric 
vibrations; and these again into waves of sounds; the 
electric light converts vibrations into light and heat; the 
thermo-pile joined with a telephone will transmit heat into 
sound; while silenium cells will perform the same operation 
with light; it is, then, but a simple statement of fact that, 
given the proper apparatus, one can easily hear light and 
heat, and see sound." He is arguing against the identity 
of what we call matter (apparent) with the essential meta- 
physical matter — of atoms and spaces. 

9. p. 121. I am indebted to the late Dr. A. J. Ingersoll, 
of Corning, N. Y., ("/n Health,'' and his ''Sabbath Talks,'') 
a man of deep original spiritual thinking, needing much 
qualifying, for the pervading sentiment of this hymn, Self- 
forgiveness, a loving forgiveness toward our own faultinesses 



NOTES 281 

as well as others', not a self -excusing, nor a self-accusing con- 
science, but a grateful leaving of all our sins and selves vrith 
Christ for His redeeming; also for the reverencing of the 
entire physical life, and fundamentally that life which is 
divinely ordained for the human family on earth, which is 
by unwise angers diseased into abnormal fires and passions. 

10. p. 130. A beautiful quotation from an ancient 
Japanese poet, given me by that great missionary statesman 
of Japan, Guido Fridoline Verbeck, D. D. 

11. p. 132. Almost a word for word phrasing from ad- 
dress by B. B. Nagardias, of India, at World's Religious 
Conference, at Chicago World's Fair, 1893. 

12. p. 134. Popularly called for some time "Volt,'' more 
accurately now "Ampere," each after an inventor. 

13. p, 137. The author has been delighted to see, since 
this portion was written, this figure of God's keyboard of the 
skies, by Dr. Sandy, in The Oracles of God, p. 160. 

14. p. 176. The author regrets he has forgotten to what 
recent author he is indebted for this admirable phrasing. 

15. p. 190. Battles of Manila Bay, May 1, and 
Santiago, July 3, 1898. 

16. p. 200. Few need be informed how the Jewish Sab- 
bath evolved into the Christian Sunday. 

17. p. 202. "Perpetual service their perpetual rest." — 
Lange's Revelation. 

18. p. 208. Hymn written by author for dedication of 
the Jay Gould Memorial Church, (Reformed Church in 
America), Roxbury, N. Y., Oct. 13, 1894. (Maybe used 
for Church Dedications, or Sabbath Processional.) 

19. p. 213. For erection of ancient Cathedral of Chartres, 
see extracts from two letters of A. D. 1145, printed in Bishop's 
Pictorial Architecture of France, p. 104. 



282 NOTES 

20. p. 226. The two seas that met at Chicago, at World's 
Fair, four centuries after discovery of America, are the great 
lake of water and the great sea of humanity assembled 
there. In the song, reference toward its close is made to the 
strange burning of almost all its Centennial buildings when 
the Fair was over. 

21. pp. 231 and 264. The volcanic eruption in Java, a few 
years ago, affected even our American sunsets with a strikingly 
deeper brilliancy; similar atmospheric and possibly climatic 
effects followed Pelee's disastrous eruption in 1902. On the 
importance of Dust, see A. R. Wallace's The Wonderful Cen- 
tury, chapter nine. Krakatoa's (Java) dust was apparent 
three years afterward; and some of it went round the earth 
three times; p. 75. Dust gives blue to the sky, elsewise 
colorless and black, makes a track of sunbeam through the 
pure black air, in the atmosphere from ten to twelve miles 
high, affecting its colors. No clouds, no gentle rains, nor 
mists, etc., without dust on which the atoms of moisture 
condense, thus preventing otherwise constant waterspouts 
and torrents. See also p. 82 of this poem. 

22. p. 241. Gautama Boodha lived eighty-one years, 
preaching sixty. Confucius lived seventy-three years, 
preaching fifty-three. Mohammed lived sixty-one years, 
giving himself to special religious meditations at twenty- 
four, preaching publicly at thirty-eight, i. e., preaching — and 
fighting twenty-three years. Jesus, the blessed Son of God, 
had just three years in which to preach and plant His King- 
dom of love! 

23. p. 264. " Night is defined by darkness, death by 
dust." — Bailey's Festus. 

24. p. 266. See Louis Blanc's Orammar oj Painting and 
Engraving, p. 112 seq. 

25. p. 269. "Impatient of isthmuses. "—Eev. Dr. R. 
S. Storrs' Lectures on Christian Beligion. 



NOTES 283 

26. p. 269. Isaiah 66 : 8, seq. 

27. p. 273. " Multitudinoua plural. "—Rev. Dr. George 
W. Bethune, in sermon on Resurrection. 

28. p. 273. "Plural of excellence. "—The Hebrews 
emphasized a noun by pluralizing it; e. g., Elohim, the 
plural of Eloah converts "gods " into "God." 



